Kjell’s Pirates are finally stung into action to avoid Cup slip up
JOHANNESBURG: The Buccaneers avoided being stung by EC Bees to march into the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup yesterday at Sisa Dukashe Stadium.
The side from the thirdtier of South African football looked to dent Pirates’ fragile confidence that’s at an all-time low. They managed to do that briefly after Bongani Chikile stole the ball from a wayward pass by Issa Sarr.
Chikile ran from the centreline to beat Siyabonga Mpontshane with Sarr and Ayanda Gcaba lurking. That piece of individual brilliance showed that the hosts can hold their own, especially coming after an audacious free-kick from Mpho Makola that showed the midfielder’s and Pirates’ class.
That class from Makola and the Buccaneers hasn’t been consistently present this season. Coach Kjell Jonevret, pictured, gave two of Pirates’ forgotten men, goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane and Bernard Morrison, rare starts, while there was no place for the club’s top goalscorer Tendai Ndoro, even on the bench.
Morrison almost celebrated his return to the first team from the reserve side with a goal after being set up by Dove Wome. But the Ghanaian could only hit the woodwork from a glorious opportunity.
That moment came just a few minutes after Wome gave the Buccaneers the lead. The Togolese forward met Mpho Makola’s cross, after Makola waltzed past two defenders.
Wome tapped the ball into an open net to help Pirates settle into the match. Wome has had a good start to his tenure at Pirates, on loan from Super Sport United. The goal was his third in the club’s last five games.
The plucky amateur side took the game to the Buccaneers. They ran them rugged, led by veteran Welcome Qalanto upfront. The ABC Motsepe League side didn’t show Pirates any respect, which was appreciated by the crowd that filled the stadium.
But that crowd was at the receiving end of Thamsanqa Gabuza’s wrath after he secured the Buccaneers’ twogoal lead. The much criticised striker went to the crowd with his hand on his ear, gesturing to them if they had anything to say to him having found the back of the net.