The Buccaneers have been sailing stormy waters, dogged by on- and off-the-field problems mostly of their own making
Ntuthuko Maphumulo
“Once a pirate always a pirate” is a slogan that has finally caught up with reigning Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions Orlando Pirates.
The Buccaneers have been dogged by controversy since the 2001/2002 season began.
Firstly coach Gordon Igesund walked the plank; then chairman Irvin Khoza was arrested for having an unlicensed firearm (on top of being accused of R66-million tax evasion), and finally heavy disciplinary sentences were deservedly handed down to some of their players.
The mighty Buccaneers have fallen from being the most revered team in the country to being seen as a law unto themselves. Pirates, who are also known as the people’s team, seem to be faced with an image problem.
They ended last season on a high, pocketing the league title for the first time since 1994, and began the new season with the same zest, despite Igesund having jumped ship.
Augusto Palacios took the helm and they beat Bush Bucks 2-1, but the celebrations were short-lived.
Their second league game against Ajax Cape Town was abandoned due to the ill-discipline of a few players from Pirates.
But the show must go on and it did in the next two games. Golden Arrows scored an own goal that gave Pirates a lucky win but Ria Stars were not so generous, securing a 1-1 draw.
Last week Ajax Cape Town were given the three points for the abandoned game, as the PSL’s disciplinary committee finally showed some teeth.
Pirates will be without the services of Thabo Mngomeni for four months, Josep Ngake for six months and Benedict Vilakazi for four matches thanks to the bans.
The team was also fined R80 000, but is to appeal to the South African Football Association against the sentences.
The news does not get much better as Pirates next cross swords with former coach Victor Bondarenko and his high- flying Moroka Swallows on Sunday.
Pirates will be hoping to win to prove to their supporters that the game goes on despite having three of their regular players suspended. The wily Bondarenko, on the other hand, wants to put one over his old team and keep the Birds at the top of the table.
The champions are languishing in tenth position and badly need the points. The two teams met before the season began in a charity cup game. Pirates won 1-0 thanks to a Vilakazi goal, but the midfielder is not available this time around.
The next round of the Coca-Cola Cup will also not be plain sailing for Pirates. Their opponents are Ajax Cape Town. Not only was the last match between the two sides stormy, but the Coke Cup replaces the Rothmans Cup, which Ajax won by beating Pirates 4-1 in the final replay, so there’s a lot riding on that game.
Caretaker coach Palacios is putting a brave face on matters: “Everything is all right in the Pirates camp and every player is important to the club. That is why we have a big squad.”
Pirates have appointed Jean-Yves Kerjean as their new coach. Kerjean is a former player for Marseille and has coached Swiss first division side Delemon and French national division side Limoges. Kerjean is waiting for his work permit before he can take over from Palacios.
Pirates have won many cup competitions in their time but they have not yet been able to add the Coca-Cola Cup, which is back after a six-year break, to their treasure chest.
The return of this competition worth R2-million gives Pirates an opportunity to set the record straight on another front, too. They have not won a knockout competition with a million-rand first prize since their formation 64 years ago.
They will have to keep cool heads and get it right first time when they take on Ajax Cape Town on October 7, as there are no replays in this competition.