Are Pirates good enough?
Orlando Pirates' 2019/20 campaign was dubbed as the one to “feed the soul” by Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic as the Buccaneers’ quest for silverware continued. But Micho’s departure after just two matches changed everything. Pirates’ proactive approach as the busiest Absa Premiership team during the 2019 July/August transfer market was dealt a blow. The mighty Buccaneers have not won any silverware in six years, and if their bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs clinch this season’s title, their drought will be under an even bigger microscope. With 11 players signed and having their kit sponsor design a retro 1995 Champions League-winning jersey, Pirates’ plan was to conquer domestic football! But three different coaches later, they will be empty-handed yet again. The Siya crew looks at where it all went wrong and ask the questions: are Pirates good enough to topple rivals Chiefs and reigning Absa Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns next season?
False start…
Orlando Pirates have bounced back from a tepid start in a league campaign before, but never have they had to do so following the shock resignation of a coach that they had pinned their hope on to win them the title.
Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic jumped ship to take up a “new challenge” with Egyptian giants Zamalek in August last year. However, reports – which the Serbian immediately denied – alleged that the 50-yearold fled the country because of a sex scandal.
The Buccaneers’ troubles were compounded, adding talk that there was disharmony with two bulls in one kraal, between Sredojevic and Rhulani Mokwena - his trusted assistant coach for two years.
Add the arrival of Fadlu Davids to the mix and it was a coming together of different ideas, methods and leadership styles.
In as much they all tried to coexist, the fact that Mokwena almost attempted to start from scratch when he was appointed as the interim coach suggests that there had always been a difference in opinion. To be fair to him, not only did he have to deal with a camp in disarray over Micho abruptly leaving after just two domestic games, the young tactician still had to win!
Together, Mokwena and Micho had recommended the club make the bulk, if not all, of the 11 new signings. They might have differed in their opinion of who is best suited in what role as would have been expected, but Mokwena now had to carry the weight on his shoulders, while Davids played a supporting role.
Pirates’ season was never wellpoised…
Mhango the best of the bunch
If you were looking for signs of intent from Pirates to dominate this season, you would have easily found them in their transfer activity.
With 11 players arriving at the club during the July/ August window and around 15 offloaded, the Buccaneers were by far the busiest of not just their title rivals, but all topflight clubs combined.
They recruited a goalkeeper, Joris Delle, defenders Bongani Sam and Tebogo Tlolane, three midfielders in Kabelo Dlamini, Siphesihle Ndlovu, Fortune Makaringe and three forwards – Tshegofatso Mabasa, Gabadinho Mhango and Austin Muwowo.
Zakhele Lepasa returned from his loan spell at TS Galaxy in the second tier, while Nkanyiso Zungu was a surprise January signing.
A report card of all these players makes for grim reading, with perhaps only two exceptions, in Makaringe and Mhango.
Makaringe was the quickest to adapt in a team that started slow and battled even more under Mokwena’s brief spell. Before the league was suspended due to the Coronavirus, Mhango had become the go-to man for Pirates upfront with his 14 league goals, most of which came immediately following the arrival of Josef Zinnbauer in December as the German took charge of the Bucs bench.
Although he’d scored on his debut at the start of the season, it wasn’t until the German mentor took over that Mhango proved that he could be useful. The Malawian forward scored 10 goals in the same number of matches during. Zinnbauer looked to him to lead the line, and the two defeats the club has suffered under the coach have come when Mhango was suspended and against rivals Chiefs, who are top of the Absa Premiership standings. To have only two of 11 new players counted as standout performers this season would have no doubt contributed to what was an already fragile dressing room, so don’t be surprised if some of them are shipped out.
Missing out on ‘Tyson’
On the Soweto giants’ player wish-list for the 2019/20 season was a centre- back and Bidvest Wits and Bafana Bafana captain, Thulani ‘Tyson’ Hlatshwayo, emerged as a top priority for Pirates, but in the end, there was no deal!
It’s a decision the club has come to regret, hence ‘Tyson’ remains a target for the upcoming campaign, though his improved Wits contract will now make the deal even more complicated – unless they are prepared to pay a big transfer fee. Of course, the defender will now be a year older should the Buccaneers step up their pursuit of the player for next season.
But when your reputation is at stake and your trophy drought continues to stretch, forcing questions to come up regarding your credibility as a genuine title challenger, does age really matter?
‘Tyson’ will be 31 in December, but that doesn’t change the fact that he remains highly-rated and, given his lifestyle choice, he very well could still have another five good seasons in him to offer.
Pirates, with skipper Happy Jele and Ntsikelelo Nyauza as his most recent partner at rear-guard, conceded 26 goals in 23 Absa Premiership matches – that’s nine more goals than log leaders Chiefs who have a game less played.
And that’s 11 more goals than reigning champions Sundowns, who have played 21 matches. So, with that comparison, the Buccaneers might very well have still been in the race if they had a figure like Hlatshwayo marshalling their back four. They’ve lacked that this season and their continued interest in the player is an indication that perhaps, internally, the club has come to that conclusion, too.
Bradley Grobler – the hunt for a striker
Mhango’s surge into form from December onwards has spared Pirates’ blushes. Opting out of pushing for a deal with SuperSport United to sign striker Bradley Grobler could have backfired.
Much like the Hlatshwayo situation, the Buccaneers had shown an interest in luring the 32-year-old forward at the start of the season with talk of a swap deal involving Kudakwashe Mahachi and Thamsanqa Gabuza, who did join SuperSport, but in the end, it was without Grobler becoming part of the deal.
The Bafana Bafana man is two goals behind Mhango in the Golden Boot race and has enjoyed his best season yet - now that he is injury-free. He’d made it clear that he was ready to join one of the Big Three, and singled out Pirates specifically, knowing that they were chasing his signature.
Grobler all but asked chairman Irvin Khoza to come get him, but nothing materialised – and if it wasn’t for Mhango’s recent purple patch, that may have been highlighted as another regrettable call.
Pirates didn’t appear to be in desperate need of more attacking impetus given that Justin Shonga and Augustine Mulenga were carrying the load right until the end of the season as they finished runners-up to Sundowns in the title race.
With clear ambitions to end the silverware drought and talk that Shonga could leave, beefing up became necessary. But the Buccaneers instead signed Mhango, Mabasa, Muwowo and got Lepasa back from loan.
Shonga and Mulenga have stayed put, but their contribution this season is almost non-existent and would have no doubt affected their morale, and the Siya crew has reported that the former is desperate to leave.
Furthermore, it is understood that Pirates are targeting a striker when the transfer window does open up again – but are they a year late to jump on the Grobler train?
Bongi Ntuli is also another forward believed to be edging closer to a move to the Soweto giants, with AmaZulu FC likely to sell should they get relegated. A substantial transfer fee for Ntuli, who has carried them for much of the season, could ensure they balance their books in the lower division, too.
Who’s headed out?
There could be another clear-out at Pirates to cut loose players who’ve not raised their game as Zinnbauer prepares to have his first full season at the club and target a first ever trophy on South African soil.
Xola Mlambo has recently become the face of the expected exodus, though he is still contracted to the Buccaneers for another year. But there’s no hiding the fact that he has suffered under Zinnbauer and it is going to take some doing for the midfielder to win his place back in the starting line-up. Pirates must also make a call on French goalkeeper Joris Delle, who came in highly recommended from Europe, but has played second fiddle to Wayne Sandilands, a player who is currently engaged in talks to extend his contract.
When he’s been given a chance, Delle has come under huge criticism for being below par, and with talk that the club are favourites to sign Richard Ofori from Maritzburg United, the Frenchman could be the sacrificial lamb.
Then there’s left back Sam, who joined from Bloemfontein Celtic and has only made two appearance since signing.
He is a future prospect, but faces stiff competition to become the firstchoice regular under Zinnbauer, with a loan the most likely route in the coming months.
Alfred Ndengane, Muwowo, Shonga and Lepasa could be on that list, too, given their lack of game-time, though Pirates will need replacements to have enough depth with the likelihood that they will qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup next season if they are able to hold on to third place as things stand.
Who’s coming in?
A new goalkeeper, defender and striker – it will be a priority.
According to Siya sources, that is what the Buccaneers have prioritised, but you don’t always get what you wish for as evidenced by the unsuccessful negotiations to bring both Hlatshwayo and Grobler on board.
Those two names will top the wishlist, though their age might be something to consider for the club because they will have no resale value.
As reported for months now, Pirates are favourites to land Ofori’s signature, with the Ghanaian keeper’s contract set to expire in June next year. The relationship between the two clubs has grown over the years and Ofori has made it clear that he wants to continue being the No.1 – Pirates can offer him that.
He is not the only Maritzburg player on the Buccaneers’ radar, with teammate Rushine De Reuck being monitored closely, too. With the ‘Tyson’ deal complicated by the player’s decision to sign an improved contract at Wits, young De Reuck suddenly becomes a solid option, and one with a potentially higher resale value.