Orlando Pirates declare war on Sundowns’ title streak

After three consecutive seasons finishing as runners-up, Orlando Pirates are tired of playing second fiddle to Mamelodi Sundowns. Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine has made it clear that the team’s only goal this season is to win the Betway Premiership title.

Sundowns have a stunning record, having won the South African Premiership for eight consecutive seasons. During this period of unparalleled success, Pirates have consistently emerged as their closest competitor.

The Buccaneers’ season began on a sour note with back-to-back defeats to Sekhukhune United and Marumo Gallants. However, the team has since found its footing, securing three consecutive wins to move up the league table. They earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory against both Stellenbosch FC and Orbit College FC before delivering a dominant 3-0 performance against Chippa United.

The recent winning streak has fueled optimism within the squad. “We kind of let ourselves down the last two to three seasons when we felt like we could have gone a step further,” said Chaine in a recent interview. “The biggest one that everyone is looking for is the league, and it’s not different this season.”

LOOKING AHEAD FOR ORLANDO PIRATES

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has postponed Pirates’ midweek game against Magesi FC to allow the team to focus on their CAF Champions League campaign. They will face Lioli FC of Lesotho this Saturday at the Free State Stadium.

Their next league opponent will be Siwelele FC, who are currently struggling at the bottom of the table without a single win this season. A recent 2-0 loss to Durban City FC has left Siwelele FC in 13th place with four defeats.

Pirates currently sit in sixth place with nine points from five games, seven points behind league leaders Sekhukhune United, with a game in hand. The team’s determination is clear—they’re ready to make a serious push for the title and finally shed the “bridesmaids” label.