HERMAN GIBBS
Orlando Pirates can breathe new life into South Africa’s domestic season by laying down a marker with an emphatic MTN8 performance against SuperSport United in Soweto this weekend.
More and more fans are sensing that Pirates’ pre-season form in Spain indicates that Mamelodi Sundowns’ dominance in local football is about to end. Sundowns have been runaway Premiership champions for the past few seasons, making it a one-horse race.
Pirates’ pre-season itinerary took them to Spain, where they were impressive, with a win over seven-time Europa League winners Sevilla and draws against Granada (Spain) and Plymouth Argyle (England). In their final tour match, they lost 3-2 to Al Sadd, the Qatar Stars League club.
On their return to Mzansi, they played friendlies behind closed doors against Angolan side Bravos do Maquis and Eswatini visitors Mbabane Highlanders over the weekend. The entire squad enjoyed game time against the two clubs. They won both matches, scoring eight goals and conceding two, against the visiting clubs who are preparing for the new season in Johannesburg.
The scorers included Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo, Mohau Nkota, Patrick Maswanganyi, Tshegofatso Mabasa, Azola Matrose, Monnapule Saleng and Katlego Otladisa. Mabasa counted among the players that impressed the most.
These results all point to a team that has prepared well during the pre-season. Their Spanish coach José Riveiro may have a selection headache on his hands because the team has gelled well as a combination.
Riveiro and Pirates will be dealing with a hectic schedule next month. After Saturday’s MTN8 clash, Pirates start their CAF Champions League campaign with a fixture against Madagascan side Disciples FC in the first preliminary round on August 16, with the return leg on August 23.
This will be followed by an international break.
The Premiership will start on Saturday, September 14, when Pirates hosts Chippa United in Orlando.
After this Saturday’s match between Pirates and SuperSport, the MTN8 action resumes in the Winelands where Stellenbosch FC will host TS Galaxy in their quarter-final clash.
There will be plenty of needle in the match for Lehlogonolo Mojela, who joined Stellies from Galaxy and will be making his debut for Stellies.
He was a big admirer of Stellenbosch’s style of football in the past.
“They beat my former team three times as well, so I was also like ‘hey, if you can’t beat them, you must join them’,” said Mojela.
“I’m hoping to win more trophies and titles with the team,”
“As we saw last season, Stellenbosch won the Carling Black Label Cup and fell just short in the league and the Nedbank Cup, so maybe this season we can grab two or three trophies.
“I’m going to bring a lot of energy and look to motivate my teammates, and I hope to score a lot of goals as well.”
The remaining first-round matches will be played on the weekend of September 10.