Moeneeb Josephs eats humble pie over Pirates title race U-turn

Former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs has conceded he made a massive miscalculation by prematurely writing off the Buccaneers’ title credentials, admitting he gave a stuttering Mamelodi Sundowns side far too much credit.

Sundowns’ stunning 3-2 collapse against TS Galaxy has completely resurrected Orlando Pirates’ championship dreams, handing Jose Riveiro’s side the ultimate lifeline. The Sea Robbers now head into Saturday afternoon’s clash against Durban City FC at Orlando Stadium knowing that maximum points will secure the Betway Premiership title with a match to spare, thanks to their mathematically superior goal difference over Chloorkop.

It is a dramatic turn of events that seemed impossible just weeks ago when Josephs, alongside a chorus of local analysts, boldly claimed the race was over after the Buccaneers carelessly dropped points against Bloemfontein Celtic, Sundowns, Richards Bay, and arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs.

Now facing a massive reality check, the legendary former national team keeper used an appearance on the Soccer Beat podcast to urge his fellow pundits to own up to their premature predictions, confessing that his own harsh judgment was born out of sheer frustration over Pirates’ habitual slip-ups rather than a genuine belief in Sundowns’ invincibility.

FORMEE PIRATES STAR JOSEPHS CONCEDES MASIVVE MISCALCULATION ON SUNDOWNS

“Let’s rectify things and own up when we make mistakes, you know what I’m saying? We were not wrong [to criticise], but we were disappointed in our team because of the opportunities they squandered,” Josephs said on the Soccer Beat podcast.

“The problem was that we expected too much from Mamelodi Sundowns simply because they have been so dominant over the past few years.

“We felt that, with Pirates dropping points, Sundowns were definitely going to capitalise and pick up their own points. But that is where we were wrong. We gave Sundowns too much credit,” Josephs continued.

The veteran keeper admitted that he allowed the fearsome reputation built by the Tshwane giants over nearly a decade of dominance to cloud his judgment, failing to recognise that cracks were forming in the Chloorkop outfit.

‘THE GUARD HAS CHANGED’

He further explained that because Pirates were dropping points themselves, analysts failed to notice that this was a vulnerable Sundowns side.

“We were wrong about Mamelodi Sundowns because we gave them too much credit. They have now shown that they are not the Sundowns of old,” he added.

“The times have changed, the guard has changed. The new owners of the PSL are here now, and that is us. We are the new owners of this PSL now.”