It would be no exaggeration to suggest that Orlando Pirates went through the turbulent process of navigating a succession of troubled and tempestuous waters for much of the past season.
Now, having lost the services of five of their most cultured players in Zambian Isaac Chansa, Nigerian Onyekachi Okonkwo, Gift Leremi, Lelo Mbele of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and seemingly Benedict Vilakazi as well, the Buccaneers give every impression of attempting to guide a rudderless ship as they prepare to take on England’s Tottenham Hotspur in the second of the series of Vodacom Challenge pre-season games in Cape Town on Tuesday night.
And it would be safe to assume the Premiership’s fifth-placed combination will be in no mood to hand out favours either as they seek to gain a measure of revenge for the defeat they suffered against Pirates four season ago in a game designed to enhance South Africa’s successful 2010 World Cup bid.
Spurs arrive in Cape Town comforted, if not elated, by Saturday’s uninspiring 2-1 victory against Kaizer Chiefs on the same King’s Park pitch where they tasted defeat against Pirates on their previous visit to the country.
While always playing with a little in hand against a Chiefs side still struggling to banish the spectre of a nightmarish 2006/07 season, Spurs did nothing to suggest they would mount a meaningful challenge to the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool in the coming Premiership programme.
And with manager Martin Jol suggesting on the team’s arrival that they would attempt to emulate the impressive record of the Spurs ”Invincibles” who toured South Africa in 1962, they clearly have some way to go.
But with players of the calibre of strikers Dimitar Berbetov, Robbie Keane and Darren Bent, augmented by a solid defence that includes England number one goalkeeper Paul Robinson, the North London club would seem to have the potential to raise their level.
Whether they have a midfield magician of the calibre of erstwhile club legends John White and Glenn Hoddle to ignite a combination of true class is another matter.
Pirates, meanwhile, have been going through the process of restoring a semblance of their former reputation under no-nonsense DRC coach Bibey Mutombo, in spite of the off-loading of many of their most prominent stars.
And with a team now cast more in his own image, it is not inconceivable Mutombo may have moulded a combination capable of playing with more authority. A victory over Spurs would be a timely morale-booster.
More likely, however, the redesigned Buccaneers are set to walk the plank before facing Chiefs in Port Elizabeth on Thursday for the right to earn a second bite at beating Spurs at Loftus on Saturday in what is loosely termed a tournament. — Sapa