Sowetan

Renewed Bucs get chance to close the gap

Motale impressed by recent decent form

- By Gomolemo Motshwane

Former Orlando Pirates skipper Edward Motale has implored the Buccaneers to take advantage of the slip-up from the other Absa Premiershi­p contenders.

The Sea Robbers will have an opportunit­y to close the gap on Mamelodi Sundowns at the summit of the table when they face Ajax Cape Town at the Cape Town Stadium tonight (7.30pm).

At the weekend, two other top challenger­s, Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs, shared the spoils in a goalless draw, while fellow chasers Cape Town City could only draw at Bloemfonte­in Celtic.

Pirates have been in fine form in the second round where they are undefeated since the start of 2018, winning three games and drawing one to move to third place.

A victory against the struggling Urban Warriors could leave them only two points behind Sundowns.

“In this league, as you can see, a win can take you to the top and a loss can make you go down, so Pirates must not let this opportunit­y pass them,” Motale said. “They are a joy to watch, they have been playing well. I can’t get enough of watching Pirates when they play nowadays.”

Motale feels that coach Milutin Sredojevic has now found his best XI after experiment­ing with a number of combinatio­ns this season.

“That squad has been completely renewed and refreshed. It’s no longer that same side you dreaded to go and watch.

“I also think that the stability in the technical department has helped after changing coaches all the time.”

The 1995 CAF Champions League winning captain is excited that Pirates’ goals can come from anyone on the field with Thabo Qalinge, Thembinkos­i Lorch, Justin Shonga and Luvuyo Memela showing they can score.

“You can see that the team has goals in it,” Motale said.

 ?? / LEE WARREN/GALLO IMAGES ?? Thembinkos­i Lorch has shown the potential to score more goals for Orlando Pirates.
/ LEE WARREN/GALLO IMAGES Thembinkos­i Lorch has shown the potential to score more goals for Orlando Pirates.

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