There is a fine line between challengers and pretenders – some set their tone from their outset, while others leave things to chance until it’s too late.
Orlando Pirates were the Premiership bridesmaids to eventual winners Mamelodi Sundowns for the last two seasons, thanks to their ‘pretender’ antics.
But such has been the Sea Robbers’ quickness to come out of the blocks this season, they are all but tipped to knock the Brazilians off their perch for the title.
Sundowns lead the title race with 30 points, three ahead of Pirates, who are second on the log and have a game in hand.
Coach Jose Riveiro’s men could capitalise on that game in hand tonight (7.30pm kick-off) if they beat Cape Town City in the Mother City and go level with Sundowns.
Pirates are favourites for this match as they are on high after winning their last three matches across the Premiership and CAF Champions League.
In the last game, they beat Stade d’Abidjan in the second round of the group stage to top Group C with eight points, one ahead of Al Ahly.
So, given that their African quarter-final berth is nigh to becoming a reality for the first time since 2013, when they lost in the final to Al Ahly, there’s no reason for them not to want to dominate all round.
Hello 👋🏿 Cape Town 👊🏿
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) January 8, 2025
✈️ Safely Landed Last Night ☠️
⚫⚪🔴⭐#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/TjXmMADZru
You see, Pirates might have talented players at their disposal, but most are inexperienced when it comes to having to juggle between domestic and continental football.
And so, that’s why it’s being thrown in the deep end that will toughen them up.
The 20-year-old Relebohile Mofokeng is growing in leaps and bounds, and is showing readiness to swim with the sharks.
He mastered Pirates’ last two wins – over Magesi in the league and D’Abidjan in the Champions League. So, given that they need to win at all costs tonight, they might look to him to lead the way.
And that’s not all. With Riveiro having stressed that he’s not a coach that chops and changes, goalkeeper Sipho Chaine will be eyeing his third successive clean sheet across all competitions.
⏰ Counting Down
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) January 7, 2025
🎙 Assistant Coach Mandla Ncikazi:
“We just focus on the next match and try and improve our performance.”
🏆 #BetwayPrem
🆚 @CapeTownCityFC
🗓 8 January 2025
⏰ 19:30
🏟 DHL Stadium
📺@SuperSportTV
⚫⚪🔴⭐#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/wVIwPAb6I8
Pirates don’t want to win in Cape Town only to go level with the champions, but they also want to avoid slipping up against former coach Muhsin Ertugral.
The Turkish-born coach had a brief stint with Pirates in 2016, but after a 6-0 mauling by SuperSport United at Mbombela Stadium, he did the improbable: resigning on national television.
Since then, Ertugral has gone on to hold various positions, including being the technical advisor of his native national team in the last four years, but he relishes his new job alright.
Already, the 65-year-old opened his Cape Town City account on a high, adding more misery to former club Kaizer Chiefs after Darwin Gonzalez’s solo goal handed them the three at home last Sunday.
Now with Pirates lurking, Ertugral will be eyeing the downfall of another Soweto giant in a place he’ll want to dub a ‘slaughterhouse’ for visiting teams.
Sure, the Citizens might not boast the same depth as Pirates, but the players at Ertugral’s disposal can compete with any team, on any day.
Do not take your eyes off the newbies, which include Amadou Sokouna and Kamohelo Mokotjo.
But Thabo Nodada seems to be back to his old self as the talisman of this City team.
Nodada, on for his first start of the season against Chiefs after a long layoff, chipped in with his first contribution of the campaign, assisting Gonzalez’s winner.
Nodada said he wants to be the game-changer and compete against the best.
So, perhaps there’d be no better time for him than to put out another solid shift against a star-studded Pirates team.