Klate steals show as Bucs draw first blood
Pirates coach Roger de Sa’s winning streak continues
AUGUST has been great for muchmaligned Bucs boss Roger de Sa in a purple patch that has seen him steer his side to claim major scalps in the country and on the continent.
This MTN8 first-leg victory comes on the heels of back-to-back historic triumphs over Egyptian giants AlAhly and Zamalek in the Caf Champions League in the past two weeks.
It was a perfect pitch on a perfect day and an army of fans of both sides descended on the Calabash expecting to feast on fine football.
It was delivered in dollops, first by Pirates in an opening half they dominated against opponents who looked dazed and dizzy, as though they had just awoken from slumber.
Pirates crowned their crisp start when Daine Klate whipped in a fine free kick 12 minutes on. It is advantage to Bucs going into the second leg at the Orlando Stadium on September 24.
This was De Sa’s first victory over Amakhosi in nine years.
“It is a great win. It is halftime and we are 1-0 up. I am worried about our next game now against Zamalek in Egypt. I worry about the future and not the past,” said De Sa.
The Soweto derby, in which Bucs midfield anchor Lehlohonolo Masalesa won man of the match, would have ended in a draw had Bernard Parker’s shot not rebounded off the upright into the hands of grateful Bucs keeper Senzo Meyiwa.
Chiefs fell under the spell of some splendid passing by Pirates.
The interchange of passes in the Chiefs third had a tika-takish touch about it as Daine Klate and Sifiso Myeni set up Lennox Bacela, whose shot was brilliantly blocked by Tefu Mashamaite.
Bucs’ slogan is “Black is back”. But yesterday Chiefs saw rooi gevaar. Lucky Lekgwathi led his men in an all-red ensemble that would have made the SA Communist Party’s Blade Nzimande proud.
De Sa won the battle of wits against opposite number Stuart Baxter as the sprightly Sea Robbers made their onslaught.
Chiefs came back strongly in the second half. Much of that had to do with Knowledge Musona replacing an ineffective Lehlohonolo Majoro.
Musona made an immediate impact, injecting life into what had been an insipid Chiefs attack. His
Knowledge will be better for us as a team coming off the bench
darting runs caused concern for Pirates and he had three attempts at goal — all wide — within five minutes of his introduction. Since hindsight is the best teacher, Baxter will know he blundered by benching the one player who enjoys tormenting Pirates, especially on this ground.
But Baxter defended his decision when he said: “Major [Majoro] knows the way we play. My rationale was that Knowledge would be better for us as a team coming off the bench. He is settling in well. Major was there to move the line a bit. Given the chance to do it again, I would have done the same thing.”
Amakhosi launched waves of attacks as they sought an equaliser, with Siphiwe Tshabalala and Musona leading the charge.
In the 71st minute Tshabalala hit a vicious shot. Meyiwa knew nothing about it but the ball blasted off his chest and back into play before Lekg- wathi blocked Tshabalala’s second bite. The dreadlocked one resembled a sangoma on an imphepho overdose when he weaved past a host of Bucs players and let loose a rocket that missed the target by inches.
De Sa threw in new signing Thamsanqa Gabuza and the former Lamontville Golden Arrows marksman almost marked his debut with a goal but hammered his header over the bar from a wicked Tlou Segolela cross nine minutes from time.
Whereas Pirates suffered from a poverty of mobility last season, they now have a fleet-footed speedster in Lennox Bacela, whose agility has the ability to unhinge defenders.
Segolela assumed the role of running the Chiefs rearguard ragged early on. The Limpopo lad sped past his homeboys Mulomowandau Mathoho and Mashamaite while Chiefs chased shadows.
In one instance he made Mathoho look like the immobile mannequin unveiled by Chiefs to signal the lanky defender’s signing.