Augusto Palacios has backed “competition for places” in the Orlando Pirates set-up to boost the team’s ambition of reclaiming the Absa Premiership title.
Pirates travel to Moroka Swallows tomorrow (Dobsonville, 8pm) in a key clash which could determine either side’s championship fortunes, and Palacios is confident the Buccaneers would emerge victorious thanks to the newfound hunger to fight for places in the side.
“The challenge against Swallows will be very difficult,” Palacios. “But we have a competitive squad and everybody competes for a starting place. We don’t have a situation where the starting XI is set in stone. There’s commitment and discipline from everyone and they fight for a place. I like competition.”
Bucs have Benni McCarthy and Thandani Ntshumayelo returning from suspension, but Palacios said neither should think they would walk into the team for tomorrow’s game.
“We have a nice situation whereby if one player is missing, the other one comes in and performs well. Benni was suspended for our last match (against Jomo Cosmos) and Drogba (Bongani Ndulula) came in and scored. (Rudolf) Bester also scored. So we have to assess the team and decide who plays.”
Palacios is likely to restore Moeneeb Josephs as his No1 keeper in the place of Senzo Meyiwa, who started the previous two games. “I don’t know still who will start in goal. I will decide after training (today),” he said.
The Pirates trainer also reported several minor injuries in his camp with Siyabonga Sangweni and Ruben Cloete doubtful, while Sifiso Myeni and Rooi Mahamutsa are unavailable.
Swallows are four points behind second-placed Pirates in the standings and will have to avoid defeat tomorrow to remain in the race, but Palacios warned them dropping points is not an option for Bucs.
“We have to get maximum points. We don’t have to concern ourselves much about other challengers like Sundowns, Swallows or Chiefs. Our job is to win all our games.”
Under Palacios’ tutelage, Pirates have won four out of six league games, losing only to Santos and drawing at Mamelodi Sundowns, making Bucs the form team of the second round.
Palacios still bemoaned lack of consistency in the domestic game, saying it made it difficult to tell how the title race would finish come May 19 – the final day of the league season.
“Lack of consistency is the biggest problem in SA football. You can never tell what’s going to happen. We had SuperSport at the top for some time, then Sundowns took over and they had an eight, nine point lead, but it’s all gone now. This title race will go down to the last game.”
The first round tie between Bucs and Swallows ended 1-1, with Pirates requiring a last-minute equaliser to steal a point, and Palacios expects yet another thrilling Soweto Derby tomorrow evening.
“Swallows have done extremely well and I’m not surprised that they are in the title race. They came back from two goals down to draw with Ajax in Cape Town. Their key players like (Joseph) Makhanya, (Bennett) Chenene and Siyabonga (Nomvete) are all playing well, so we’ll have to be careful.”
Fixtures
(7.30pm unless stated)
Tonight: Chiefs v Maritzburg, Peter Mokaba
Tomorrow: Sundowns v Platinum Stars, Lucas Moripe Stadium; Santos v SuperSport, Athlone; Cosmos v Celtic, Sinaba; FS Stars v Leopards, Charles Mopeli Stadium; AmaZulu v Arrows, Moses Mabhida Stadium; BIDVest Wits v Ajax, BIDVest Stadium; Swallows v Pirates, Dobsonville, 8pm
Standings
P W D L F A Pts
Sundowns 24 12 10 2 39 16 46
Pirates 24 14 4 6 31 21 46
Swallows 24 11 9 4 36 28 42
Chiefs 23 11 7 5 27 17 40
SuperSport 24 10 9 5 30 18 39
Free State 24 11 5 8 29 25 38
Ajax 23 10 5 8 32 35 35
AmaZulu 23 8 7 8 23 18 31
Celtic 24 8 7 9 24 24 31
Arrows 24 8 4 12 31 35 28
Platinum 24 7 6 11 28 31 27
Wits 24 6 8 10 26 33 26
Maritzburg 24 5 11 8 21 31 26
Leopards 24 6 5 13 26 44 23
Santos 24 5 5 14 28 40 20
Cosmos 23 2 10 11 18 33 16