Kwayiba, who joined Pirates at the start of the current campaign, arrived with high expectations after a standout season at Chippa United.

His performances in Gqeberha even earned him a call-up to the Bafana Bafana squad for the June international friendlies under coach Hugo Broos, signalling his rapid rise.

But life in the famous black-and-white jersey has been far from smooth. The 25-year-old has managed just four competitive appearances under Abdeslam Ouaddou, including a second-half cameo in the Carling Knockout semi-final win over Richards Bay this past weekend.

His limited game time has sparked criticism from certain sections of the Bucs fanbase, who feel he has yet to justify his move.

Makhanya, however, believes the midfielder's struggles are typical of a player adjusting to the demands of one of the country's biggest clubs.

Speaking to Kick-Off, the former silky Pirates playmaker emphasised that patience is essential.

"Players don't all adjust the same way. The Pirates jersey is heavy. It's a massive club, and the pressure is different," Makhanya explained.

"You don't get too many chances to have off days. Kwayiba just needs to trust himself and play the football that convinced Pirates to sign him."

He added that the club clearly saw something special in the Gqeberha-born star, and that confidence - both from the player and the supporters - will be crucial in helping him settle.

Kwayiba's challenge is made tougher by the stiff competition in his position, with Patrick Maswanganyi, Masindi Nemtajela, Kabelo Dlamini, and more recently Relebohile Mofokeng all fighting for the attacking midfield role.

Still, with only 11 league matches played, Makhanya believes there is ample time for Kwayiba to find his rhythm and prove he belongs at Pirates.

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