Orlando Pirates
The Buccaneers have a squad packed with talent, but the question on the lips of The Ghost is, can they topple Mamelodi Sundowns this season?
Having already banked the MTN8 title after ending a frustrating six-year wait to land a trophy, Orlando Pirates will be confident they can claim more silverware this season. The Nedbank Cup will be an aim, but the question is also whether The Buccaneers can dislodge Mamelodi Sundowns from their DStv Premiership throne. KICK OFF’s Lovemore Moyo investigates.
Now that the six-year drought has been broken with the MTN8 trophy, the question on the lips of The Ghost is whether this could signal the beginning of a run of success Orlando Pirates enjoyed a decade ago.
The start of Pirates’‘Double Treble’ years was also marked by lifting the MTN8 and this has brought hope to The Buccaneers that this season might end with another League title.
Their arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs are not considered a serious threat, and this leaves defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns as likely the only team that might stop the Buccaneers on their tracks, though SuperSport United and Cape Town City might disagree.
But former Orlando Pirates striker Thulasizwe Mbuyane believes nothing can stop Josef Zinnbauer’s charges.
“I don’t see any team stopping them,” he says. “Pirates have one of the best teams in domestic football. They are a team that knows each other better now, so it is in their hands to win it. This league belongs to them.”
Mbuyane was at Pirates through their ‘Double Treble’ winning seasons of 2010/11 and 2011/12, and is convinced beyond doubt his former team will go all the way.
“I’m glad that they have already won the trophy because that will make them realise that this can be done. With the squad that they have there shouldn’t be any doubts about winning the league.
“They have a much stronger squad than what we had in our time, the difference with us was that we had senior players being influential. Right now, Pirates have everything quality wise and that is why I am this confident that they can make it happen,” Mbuyane adds.
Winning the season-opening MTN8 will give Pirates the desire to take aim at the treble if they keep the bond tight, he argues.
“Once you have won that trophy it means you don’t want to drop the standards. Winning the MTN8 has meant the talk of the treble has surfaced again because they are the only team that can still win the domestic treble.
“I know the treble doesn’t happen all the time, but this group can add their names as well if they have that brotherhood factor going on. They build it from within and that way everyone feels part of the
group including those that are not playing.
“They should be a team whose wheel keeps rolling regardless of who is out of the team. In our team the bond was so strong that I even knew Happy [Jele], Senzo [Meyiwa], Oupa [Manyisa] and Benson Mhlongo’s families.
“What happens off the field also determines what happens on the field. Never underestimate this factor because football is a team sport. Benson never wanted people being on social media on the days when we had lost because he valued the badge.
“I hope this group also has this kind of brotherhood going on and with Happy still around I have the faith that they will make it happen,” reasons the retired forward.
The Zinnbauer factor
Mbuyane also feels the gloss for Pirates is that their gaffer Zinnbauer appears to carry so much calmness in him, which makes him likeable to the players. His challenge is now to make a bunch of good players winners. This is where many before him have failed.
“I think he is a strong coach who has taken the team to a space of success and now needs to make sure they remain there. I see the players are fighting for him so that should tell of the bond that he has with the squad now.
“A healthy relationship between the players and the coach is important because it is what keeps the team going and once it is damaged, the team is broken. I think these boys realise how much they must work for JZ, and I like that about the team because they are working hard for both the coach and the badge. There is no conflict,” he adds.
The spark that should ignite the fire in Pirates is obvious despite all the lessons that they need to learn if they are to walk onto the podium at the end of the season.
They need to be able to be resolute in defence and dig deep to turn games that they have drawn into three points.
Games are not won by moving the ball around with fluidity, neither are they won by dictating the tempo or dominating possession, but by doing the business of the day which is outscoring the opponents.
“I don’t want to sound pessimistic, but I’m not convinced with their consistency. That is where my doubts are. I am not convinced yet,” says yesteryear midfielder dynamo Dumisa Ngobe, sounding reserved in his assessment.
“The performance hasn’t been convincing so I don’t know how they will win the league without being consistent. They have not been going at a pace that is encouraging.
“Yes, they are playing good football, but they are not consistent in the way they are picking up results, so I don’t know how this is all going to happen if they are to win the league. Teams that win the league must find a way of consistency. OK, fine, winning the MTN8 has given them a jumpstart which should motivate them to want more trophies this season but then I still maintain that my worry is that they are not consistent in the league games. They have been drawing too many matches and that is a concern.
“Maybe with time this will change if they are able to win games in a row. The champions [Sundowns] are keeping calm at the top and know what to do under
“WITH THE SQUAD THAT THEY HAVE THERE SHOULDN’T BE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT WINNING THE LEAGUE.”
whatever circumstances might present in front of them.
“Pirates haven’t won the league since 2012 so I’m not sure this squad knows how to handle all that comes with going for the championship. Once Pirates fix the consistency element then they should be able to cruise.
“This is not yet the Pirates that I can safely say can win the league. I don’t want to sound all too negative with my doubts, but the issue here is around consistency. In saying all of this, Pirates remains my team,” points out Ngobe.
‘I am sure they want the league’
For all the talk that Pirates will always be the aggressors – the guy who throws the first punch in a fight instead of waiting to be provoked – they need to have that cutting edge which provides the difference. Pirates captain Jele has also grown into a fighter.
“If they are confident enough as a team then they can make it happen,” assures Augusto Palacios, the man who was in charge when they last won the league in 2012.
“Apart from the quality of players that Pirates have it been also important to consider the depth that they have in their squad. When you have the depth, it means the coach cannot have problems because he has cover everywhere.
“The coach will know he has players that can do the best for the team everywhere on the pitch. OK now, it is difficult to predict what they will do and what they won’t do because even the last time it happened nobody could have predicted it, but the players’ commitment and belief is what carried us through.
“Now that they have won the MTN8 I feel the belief will be there that they can add another trophy and I am sure they want the league. What is important in the league is to take it game-by-game because if you put too much pressure on the end-product [winning the league] it becomes dangerous.
“Players need to understand that every game is a final in the league because they all carry the same value, so the mentality needs to remain the same. I believe with the quality at Pirates and having won the MTN8 is a pointer to good things ahead.
“What the club and the fans want the most is the league title and that will be won by winning games and so that is why I say the value of points is the same because they are all added together in the end,” says Palacios.
‘There are some interfering elements’
Pirates can be exhilarating on occasions, but Zinnbauer’s side now needs to learn to
“PLAYERS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY GAME IS A FINAL IN THE LEAGUE BECAUSE THEY ALL CARRY THE SAME VALUE.”
defend the lead.
“They have started the season well and Zinnbauer just needs to keep getting the combinations right,” adds Bucs former striker Andries Sebola. “What will count is how much they keep working hard to consolidate what they already have in the pocket.
“Pirates really needs to stamp its authority because Sundowns have been dominating for a while now,” he adds.
“The mentality of the players, technical team and management will change now that there is a trophy in the house. They now have proof of what hard work brings. They have the evidence that if they push their efforts then they can win trophies, which is something that they want.
“They need to keep the momentum going and be consistent. They have a good squad to be honest and Zinnbauer shouldn’t change his starting line-up a lot. The quality is there, and the only thing is that they must grow that confidence in themselves as a team.
“They must not start being big-headed because they have a trophy in the bag but should rather remain down to earth and continue working hard for the sake of the badge and the supporters. They should keep having the same attitude that won them the MTN8 but be aware that in the league they need to keep it for longer,” warns Sebola.
After six trophyless years, can Pirates clinch the title because they now have a coach with direction in Zinnbauer?
“There are some other elements that we know are interfering in his job, but the man must be given a chance since he is the one who is at training with the players every day,” says Sebola.