JOHANNESBURG - Orlando Pirates’ next five Absa Premiership matches, starting with Wednesday night’s clash against Bidvest Wits, will give us a clearer picture of whether the Buccaneers are still up for a title chase or if this season is a complete write-off.
Here we look ahead to an encounter that clearly sets up Pirates as underdogs given their shoddy form, with Wits - on paper at least - walking it.
Venue: Orlando Stadium
Kick-off: 7.30pm
Last season: Wits beat Pirates 1-0 home and away.
Pirates team news:
They are in a shambles and need to turn things around quickly to save their season.
The Clever Boys aren’t the only threat they face over the next two weeks, with crucial fixtures against current high-fliers Cape Town City, Polokwane City, the Soweto Derby against rivals Kaizer Chiefs and yet another title contender in SuperSport United to follow.
These are teams in the top half of the table at the moment and capable of humiliating the Buccaneers even further.
The 6-0 defeat (the second time this season Pirates conceded six goals) at the hands of defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus on Saturday exposed the frailties of a team that have been on a slippery slope since the shock resignation of Muhsin Ertugral only six matches into the campaign. That followed a SuperSport hammering of 6-1 in Nelspruit.
It’s time for Pirates to pull themselves up by their bootstraps.
Form in past five PSL games: DLLDL
Key players: Difficult to say when they are struggling so much, but striker Tendai Ndoro remains their match winner and is currently
leading the race for the
Golden Boot with 11 goals.
Tendai Ndoro has been Orlando Pirates primary goal-threat this season, hitting the back of the net ten times. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/Backpagepix
Wits team news:
A much happier camp than that of their counterparts, the Clever Boys will feel they are surely among the hot favourites for the championship after their 5-0 dismantling of hapless Ajax Cape Town last Tuesday.
This year couldn’t have started better for coach Gavin Hunt and his men, and the return of the deadly pairing of young Phakamani Mahlambi and James Keene is simply a good omen for their title hopes.
Hunt knows how important it is now to build on that momentum and collect as many points as possible before their schedule - if they progress further in the 2017 CAF Champions League - becomes a huge distraction and an excuse for failing to win the league.
Their squad is probably only second to Sundowns in terms of quality, and they, too, will feel they have what it takes to disgrace Pirates given their potent attacking line.
To be three points adrift of log leaders Cape Town City (and with three matches in hand) must be seen as a significant advantage before their visit to the heavily wounded Soweto giants.
Wits have proven their title credentials already this season, and tomorrow night should be another exhibition of how they can sustain that.
Form in past five PSL games: DWDDW
Key players: Mahlambi, Keene, captain Thulani Hlatshwayo as well as winger Daine Klate are among several of their match winners.
Hunt also had the luxury to leave the club’s leading sharpshooter Gabadinho Mhango on the bench against Ajax, throwing him into the picture only in the second half - and the striker rewarding his coach with two well-taken goals.
We are in for a treat on Wednesday night - from a Wits perspective, at least.