Doom, gloom for Bucs fans

It was trumpeted by Orlando Pirates strongman Irvin Khoza (above) at the start of the club’s 80th anniversary as ideally suited to add further glory to the Buccaneers’ proud history.

It has been transformed instead into a disconcerting downer at this moment for the club that was founded in 1937, with even Pirates’ hopes of a top eight qualifying position in the Absa Premiership now in serious jeopardy.

At the final bend, with only two or three fixtures left, it would seem that seven of the eight clubs designated for a top eight position are seemingly settled – and Pirates are not one of them.

Instead the Buccaneers are in a tricky situation of being one of four other clubs who are battling uncertainly for the final place for the tournament that will kick off the 2017/18 season.

And, at this time, two of the four, Ajax Cape Town and Golden Arrows, with a similar number of points to Pirates, have an extra game up their sleeve to challenge for the elusive eighth place.

But perhaps even more important than Pirates having one of their worst runs in the past couple of decades, is the lack of consistent direction in which the club has found itself – with new coach Kjell Jonevret thrown into the deep end and understandably battling to come to terms in an unfamiliar environment.

And in the midst of it all, the substantial armies of Pirates’ supporters throughout the country have sunk into an atmosphere of doom and gloom.