Bucs boss Mokwena finally breaks duck
● Zizojika Izinto (things will change), which has been Orlando Pirates fans favourite song in times of trouble, seem to have done the trick to inspire Bucs to register the club’s second league win in five matches after a three-match winless streak in which they had only picked up two out of nine points.
Striker Tshegofatso Mabasa beat his former teammate at Bloemfontein Celtic, Patrick Tignyemb, twice in the Chippa United goal in the 55th and 60th minute to give the Buccaneers a deserved 2-1 victory at the Orlando Stadium yesterday afternoon.
Chippa came back strongly after going 20 down and looked to force a draw after halving the deficit in the 79th minute via Lerato Manzini’s strike.
Things were looking like they would stay pretty much the same for Rulani Mokwena’s charges as Chippa did well to keep the halftime score at 0-0 despite the home side dominating possession and attacks.
Chippa would have been happy to go back to Port Elizabeth with a point.
Mabasa benefited from two great through balls from fullbacks Siphesihle Ndlovu on the left and substitute Thabiso Monyane on the right.
Ahead of this match Mokwena, who earned his first victory as Bucs interim head coach, had spoken about making their home venue a fortress from which to launch their fight for the league title after finishing twice as runners-up behind Mamelodi Sundowns in the past two seasons.
Judging by the vigorous performance here, chances of that happening look good as the three points here must be good enough to push them into the top half of the log, albeit there are still 25 more league games.
Facing a team they had defeated in their previous seven league matches, Bucs were expected to collect maximum points at home. But they were frustrated by Chippa in the first half.
Mokwena’s team lacked players attacking the number of crosses they pumped into Chippa’s danger area, mainly coming from Innocent Maela and Thembinkosi Lorch on the left flank.
The Bucs coach, though, will be relieved that Mabasa’s brace has lifted the monkey off his back and will look forward to Pirates’ away match against Bidvest Wits at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday.