Buccaneers

Where are the goals?

If goals were available for sale at a nearby supermarket, Orlando Pirates would by now have gone out to buy them in bulk. Such have been their struggles in front of goal this season. The last time the Soweto giants put the ball in the back of the net was on 10 September, a little more than a month ago, in the 2-0 victory over TS Galaxy. That man of the moment Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana, who joined Kaizer Chiefs with three league games already played and then had to wait for his work permit, has scored six goals, the same number as the Buccaneers have netted in the league thus far, is quite telling. These are alarming statistics for a club that boasts arguably the best strike force in the league on paper. At times, despite impressive ball possession stats, Pirates have barely threatened the opposition where it matters most. How do they sort out the problem? Should they have let go of Gabadinho Mhango? Will Kermit Erasmus make a difference? Is Zakhele Lepasa really the Messiah? In this feature, Soccer Laduma’s Tshepang Mailwane investigates.