Andrew Muchineripi soccer
It is not that difficult to make a compelling case for Orlando Pirates winning the Castle Premiership national football championship a first time.
A star-studded Buccaneers squad, whose reserves would give even Bafana Bafana a run for their money, have a three-point advantage over Sundowns and one match in hand.
With only seven matches left, Pirates find themselves in a comfortable position while defending champions Sundowns struggle to regain the form that brought them three consecutive league titles.
But there is another side to this story, one that suggests the race for the R1-million first prize, easily the biggest in Africa, may not be quite so clear-cut. Pirates must play five consecutive away matches, starting with Ria Stars in Pietersburg on Sunday and followed by Kaizer Chiefs, Sundowns, Jomo Cosmos and Moroka Swallows.
Home fixtures against Ajax Cape Town and Bush Bucks complete a challenging programme, especially as it will regularly be disrupted by Bafana Bafana commitments.
Sundowns have four home engagements against Pirates, Ajax, Chiefs and Bloemfontein Celtic and travel to Santos, this Friday, and Lamontville Golden Arrows.
While Chiefs can forget about winning the title for the first time since 1992, they could easily decide who does as they host Pirates and play Sundowns at Loftus stadium.
So much could hinge on this weekend with off-form Sundowns facing on-form Santos in the second half of a Cape Town double-header that begins with a clash between Hellenic and Moroka Swallows.
An away win for ‘Downs, expected to be without injured striker Daniel Mudau, and defeat for Pirates against Ria Stars would leave the Pretoria club ahead on goal difference.
But should the opposite occur, and Santos and Pirates collect maximum points, you would have to say the trophy is destined for captain Thabo Mngomeni and his Sea Robbers.
Sundowns were awful last weekend in a goalless African Champions League clash with Mozambican club Costa do Sol. Many players appeared to be going through the motions and the finishing was amateurish.
Apart from the absence of Mudau, fellow striker Alain Amougou is on trial with a Dutch club and beanpole central defender Matthew Booth is doing likewise with English first division outfit Wimbledon. There is no doubting the talent of the Brazilians, but it appears coach Paul Dolezar and assistant Neil Tovey are losing the psychological battle.
It stands to reason that Pirates must be the hungrier side with no trophy of substance since a last-minute Andries Sebola goal earned them victory over Jomo Cosmos in the 1996 Bob Save Super Bowl final.
A long, often impatient wait and many coaches later, strict disciplinarian Gordon Igesund appears to have found the key to success that many of his predecessors had, only to lose it in the darkened tunnel.
Pirates have already had one fruitful journey to the Northern Province this season, defeating Ria 4-2 before a capacity crowd in the first leg of a Rothmans Cup quarterfinal clash.
After a good run, Kenny Ndlazi-coached Ria crashed 2-0 at home to Jomo Cosmos last weekend and the odds must be stacked against them derailing the Buccaneers. But Stars are an unpredictable bunch.
The relegation struggle is even more intense with Bloemfontein Celtic, African Wanderers, Rangers, Moroka Swallows and Classic fighting to avoid filling the final two places on the standings.
With Rangers enjoying a revival under former Zimbabwe national coach Shepherd Murape and Swallows surely too good to go down, it looks bleak for Wanderers and Celtic.
But Wanderers finish with three home matches after visiting Bush Bucks on Sunday, so do not dismiss a team that enjoyed the services of Sibusiso Zuma and Siyabonga Nomvete just a few seasons ago.
ENDS