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No Puso, no party: How Lewandowski is helping red-hot South African score goals

Puso Dithejane scored his third goal in as many games against Orlando City
Puso Dithejane scored his third goal in as many games against Orlando CityRICH STORRY / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

Puso Dithejane was on target again for Chicago Fire as he netted in their 2-1 win over Orlando City to make it six wins in a row for his side, and admitted he is learning a lot from Polish legend Robert Lewandowski, who recently joined the club from Barcelona.

The South African winger, described by coach Gregg Berhalter as the “Energizer Bunny” as he never stops running, netted a fine opener for Fire for his third goal in as many games in what was his first start in Major League Soccer.

Lewandowski scored the winner from the penalty spot after City had equalised, and it was another eye-catching performance from former TS Galaxy star Dithejane, who also has recent goals against Inter Miami and Mexican side Cruz Azul, against whom he scored twice.

Dithejane now has 17 appearances for Fire (five starts) and provided four goals and one assist.

"The vibes are great, every player wants to win. Our mentality is always the same," Dithejane said. "It is so special for me. I have been working hard in training, I want to score goals and make the team win.

"We told ourselves we have a lot of games coming up, we have to win those. It is all in the mind, our mentality has to be to always win.

"(Lewandowski) has been helping me with finishing, how to get into space and relax in the box. That is how we learn from legends."

Dithejane, who has previously played for Bafana Bafana at the 2025 COSAFA Cup, should be in the thoughts of whoever the incoming national team coach is ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers next month, especially as he can cover both right wing-back and wing.

With Khuliso Mudau facing a long-term injury following the Achilles problem he picked up against Marumo Gallants on Wednesday, Dithejane could offer an attacking solution in that position.

The matches he played at the COSAFA Cup were at right-back.

Nick Said has been covering African sport for almost three decades, specialising in football, rugby and cricket. He is based in Cape Town, South Africa and you can follow him on X and LinkedIn.

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