After an admirable start to the season, Golden Arrows have fallen on hard times and the prospects of staging a redemption process against in-form Orlando Pirates on Sunday look bleak.
Hosts Arrows will enter the Mpumalanga Stadium today on the back of a five-match losing streak. Four of these losses were in the Premiership.
Arrows have scored one goal in their last six matches and have conceded 10 goals. Whereas they were in the upper echelons of the standings earlier this season, they have slumped to seventh place.
The head-to-head record of the two teams shows that Pirates have won eight times in 18 meetings, seven of which have ended in draws.
Arrows’ striker Ryan Moon is one player that coach Mabhuti Khenyeza can rely on to turn the club’s fortunes around. When Moon is at his best, he poses a major problem to any defence in the league. He is overdue for a big game, and quality opposition like Pirates may bring the best out of him.
The other Arrows player who could help stage a recovery is right-back Brandon Theron. He has been solid in defence, but the same cannot be said about the rest of the team’s defensive unit. He also has a penchant for joining the attack when the opportunity arises and has been the team’s lone scorer over the last while.
The Durban-based outfit is facing the looming threat of matching the club’s worst Premiership losing streak since 2014 if they suffer another defeat.
Orlando Pirates have been enjoying resurgent form in recent weeks and have won four of their last five league matches. They also boast an impressive defensive record with five clean sheets.
The good news for Pirates is that Thembinkosi Lorch has returned from suspension and will add further firepower to the Pirates’ attack.
Coach Jose Riveiro has given striker Evidence Makgopa a new lease of life by giving him regular slots in the starting line-ups. He recently opened the scoring against Swallows with a clinical finish to register his third goal in five games. As a result of his good form, the highly fancied Zakhele Lepasa has been starting on the bench.
Another player who has won over Riveiro’s confidence is Vincent Pule. The pacey winger brings skill and experience to the attack and he could prove a menace for the leaky Arrows defence.
@Herman_Gibbs