Zwane likens Pirates title chase to Arsenal

AmaZulu FC head coach Arthur Zwane has likened the Orlando Pirates title chase to Arsenal in the English Premier League.

The Buccaneers are on the brink of ending their 14-year drought and winning the league for the first time since 2012. Pirates gained a massive advantage in the title race after log leader Mamelodi Sundowns suffered a shock 3-2 defeat in the Betway Premiership against TS Galaxy on Tuesday night.

The defeat against the Rockets was Sundowns’ last match of the season in the league, while the Sea Robbers are left with two games.

As it stands, Downs remains at the summit of the table with 68 points in 30 games, while Pirates are on 65 points with two games in hand.

The Soweto giants have one hand on the league trophy as they need to collect maximum points against Durban City FC at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday to secure the gold medal.

Arthur Zwane heaps praise on Pirates’ title charge

Having chased the league honours in the past three seasons under the then-head coach Jose Riveiro, Arthur Zwane has drawn a comparison between Pirates and Arsenal.

“Anything could happen [in the last two games for Pirates], but playing at the Arena [is tough]. People go there and get beaten five and six, we got three there,” Zwane said.

“That team is at a different level at home; we’ve got to give credit where it’s due. Take that very same team three years ago, it’s been coming, they’ve been knocking, and we needed that competition in football.

“What you are seeing here is what we’ve been seeing in England. I don’t support Arsenal, but I’ll tell you, for the coach and being the team that has been pushing Manchester City, Arsenal must win it. It’s just that in the PSL I can’t say who must win because I’m also the coach in the league.”