Five areas for Pirates to focus on

THERE will be no love lost when Kaizer Chiefs host Orlando Pirates in the Soweto derby tomorrow at FNB Stadium in a PSL tussle.

Pirates are unbeaten against Chiefs in five years, while they are also unbeaten in their last 14 league matches. Minenhle Mkhize looks at five areas that could help Pirates earn the maximum points tomorrow.

1. Put early pressure on Chiefs:

Chiefs have not won games coming from behind under Ernst Middendorp. All the matches they have won, they have scored first. Against Mamelodi Sundowns they conceded first and ended up losing the game 2-1.

Amakhosi also lost 1-0 to Cape Town City in their last league encounter. So scoring the opener will stand Pirates in good stead, as Chiefs don’t usually come back when they concede first.

2. Target Chiefs’ goalkeeper:

Chiefs have been very fragile at the back this season. The injury to Itumeleng Khune has aggravated things for Amakhosi. Virgil Vries has proven to be the weakest link at the back. His errors have been calamitous. If Middendorp does decide to stick with him, Pirates should put pressure on him by putting more balls in the box as the Namibian is low on confidence and he has proven to be vulnerable with aerial balls.

The likes of Happy Jele, Alfred Ndengane and Justin Shonga can cause a lot of havoc with their aerial presence. If Middendorp opts to hand a debut to Daniel Akpeyi, Pirates must also put pressure on him. Playing his first game in a Soweto derby will make him a bit nervous. Pirates can really capitalise on Amakhosi’s goalkeeping frailties.

3. Amakhosi’s lack big-match temperament:

Amakhosi have struggled against their main competitors. They have collected one point from six against Mamelodi Sundowns who are second on the league standings. Chiefs also suffered a 2-1 defeat against the Buccaneers first time round. Against the log leaders, Wits, Amakhosi managed three points out of six. Pirates will be looking to take advantage of Chiefs’ lack of big temperament.

4. Chiefs’ lack of experience and pace at the back:

One of the Buccaneers’ main weapons is pace. Thembinkosi Lorch, Augustine Mulenga and Vincent Pule are menacing upfront. Daniel Cardoso, Teenage Hadebe, Siphosakhe Ntiyantiya and Kgotso Moleko have to be at their best. Ntiyantiya, Hadebe, Vries, Akpeyi or Bruce Bvuma have never featured in a Soweto derby. Cardoso and Hadebe are good readers of the game, but they don’t have pace.

5. Dominate the midfield battle:

Both teams boast very talented players in the middle of the park. Pirates have Xola Mlambo, Musa Nyatama and Ben Motshwari.

On the other hand, Chiefs posses proven Stars like Willard Katsande, Hendrick Ekstein and Siphelele Ntshangase. These players will control the pace of the game. Whoever wins the midfield battle will also walk away with three points.