Timothy
Orlando Pirates have not had their dream start to the season, but there is a reason to smile for the Buccaneers after they won the MTN8 Cup. Pirates overcame archrivals Mamelodi Sundowns to lift the cup through post match penalties. That momentous win should go a long way in solidifying their season, coming just after their elimination from continental football. A one-time African champion, Orlando Pirates were eliminated from the CAF Champions League after losing on post match penalties to Botswana’s Galaxy FC. That came off the back of a slow start to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) where they have just seven points from a possible 15. Shocking as they come, Pirates’ results are an avenue for their competitors’ fans to make an extra dime, through the Sportingbet promotions available in October, one of which guarantees a bonus of up to R3000 on the first bet, with a minimum deposit of just R10. Also notably, there are no conditions on withdrawal and the bookie comes with a variety of markets, while Sportytrader details how to join Sportingbet using registration bonus to activate the R3000 offer.
Games in hand
Their engagements in other competitions mean Pirates have three games in hand but even so being only better than Richards Bay and Cape Town Spurs is still a far cry. Their MTN8 win had a stroke of luck, benefitting from a spate of poor refereeing, which denied Mamelodi Sundowns a penalty alongside a number of controversial decisions at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. At the start of this season, Orlando Pirates were deemed serious title challengers, backed to check Mamelodi Sundowns’ dominance of the South African top league. A great preseason regime to prepare for the season and a successful tour in Spain were all signs that this would be their season. However, all hasn’t gone to plan, and though they won the first silverware of the season, claiming the league title would be more convincing to the fans. For a team expected to be challenging for the title, seven points from a possible 15 counts for poor returns.
One point
Being one point above the relegation zone, Pirates should be aware that things could get heated for them. It is said games in hand are not a guarantee of points won, and with their experience, the South African giants will know this well. A big failure seen in their matches is the fact that they have had a blunt attack in recent matches. Pirates have scored just one goal in their last five matches. While they have a sense of defensive solidity, the Sea Robbers must complement that with a functioning attack. A change at the back that would see under-fire goalkeeper Sipho Chaine named for the MTN8 final worked well as he stopped three penalty kicks to help them win. While he can be erratic, he may be reliable at times and the MTN8 final performance is an area to build on. Coach Jose Riveiro seems to have tightened up a bit defensively and shutting out Mamelodi Sundowns is testament to the improvement. So the real work now is on the attack and the positivity from the cup win should be the reset button that they badly need.
Bongani Ndlovu