Despite Orlando Pirates having fallen so far behind Mamelodi Sundowns in the DStv Premiership title race, their squad remains worthy of winning the league and that can be achieved through addressing challenges that impede them from reaching their potential.
That’s the opinion of the Buccaneers’ captain, Innocent Maela, who has been watching his side from the sidelines due to an injury since September. The Bafana Bafana left-back admitted, though, that it might take some time to accomplish their goal of a first league titles since Bucs’ famous second successive treble in 2011-12.
When the season started there were high hopes the Soweto giants could finally run Sundowns closer in 2023/24. Despite finishing runners up, they were still 16 points adrift of the title machine that wrapped up a sixth championship in succession in 2022-23. It was hoped Bucs, by running the Brazilians close, could bring back the lost excitement to the Premiership, once renowned for its nail-biting finishes.
In Jose Riveiro's first season as coach last season, Pirates won a cup double — the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup — and were impressive in the league in the final half of the campaign to edge into their second-placed finish. They had a seemingly strong preseason, including a camp in Riveiro's Spain.
Though they started the new season by successfully defending their MTN8 trophy against Sundowns in the final, on penalties, things haven’t gone according to plan, especially in the league.
Bucs had a promising start in the Premiership and, on the back of striker Zakhele Lepasa’s form, were scoring freely. As Lepasa’s form cooled, so did Bucs’. As things stand, after Pirates beat Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 in Saturday’s Soweto derby at FNB Stadium, Bucs (15 points) trail Masandawana (a perfect 24 points from eight matches) by nine points.
That’s mainly due to a slump Pirates suffered with a winless streak of four games in the league, a period where they also crashed out of the Carling Knockout Cup quarterfinals to less-fancied Richards Bay FC.
“It wasn’t an easy period for us,” Maela said. “We had a rough patch but look even during the preseason we communicated and told ourselves we would win matches and we would go through a stage where we were not doing so well.
“We needed to stay together and support each other and make sure we worked harder than ever to make sure we bounced back.”
The derby victory followed a 1-0 win at home to Sekhukhune United, two results that seem to have steadied the Pirate ship.
Riveiro has often argued with journalists in his press briefings who have tried to suggest the chief reason his team has not fought Sundowns closer for the title last season and in this campaign is their persisting inconsistency. Maela disagrees with his coach.
Since I was appointed captain, I’ve always preached the message that everyone needs to be responsible and accountable, so that when the time comes that other players are needed, they can step up.
— Innocent Maela
Before beating Chiefs and Sekhukhune United, Pirates had failed to win back-to-back matches in the league this season.
“We try really hard to be consistent in how we play, because how we play gives us results,” the skipper said.
“If we can fix the matter of being inconsistent, then we will definitely get more wins and it will take us closer to challenging for the league and eventually winning the league. We know we need to improve, and where to improve, and we are working on it.
“It’s not an overnight process, it takes time, and we urge our people to be patient with us and eventually we will get it right. We have a quality squad that is worthy of winning the league and we promise we will get it right.
“When we start the season, we want to win all the trophies. It comes with the expectations of playing for this brand and the magnitude of the club.”
In Maela’s absence, centre-back Tapelo Xoki has been tasked with leading the side as the stand-in skipper.
“Since I was appointed captain, I’ve always preached the message that everyone needs to be responsible and accountable, so that when the time comes that other players are needed, they can step up,” Maela said.
“I also encourage players to take responsibility within themselves and make sure that when they go out there, they always play a leadership role.
“Me and Tapelo are very close; Thabang [Monare] also, and [fellow senior player Richard] Ofori, so it really doesn’t matter who wears the armband on the day — we just have to make sure we are responsible and accountable and do our jobs to the best of our abilities.”
Pirates have a two-weeks break before their next league match against Richards Bay, who knocked them out of the Carling Knockout Cup, in Durban on November 25.
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