Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Josta Dladla has shed light on Orlando Pirates’ recent struggles and hinted why the side has not been winning their games.
The Buccaneers had failed to win a game in their last three matches across all competitions before beating Jwaneng Galaxy 1-0 in their most recent game.
The saddest moment was seeing them crash out of the CAF Champions League at the expense of Botswana-based outfit Jwaneng Galaxy.
This weekend, the Sea Robbers have a mountain to climb, as they take on Sundowns in the MTN8 final.
The much-awaited final clash will take place on Saturday, 7 October at Moses Mabhida Stadium. The game will start at 18:00.
JOSTSA DLADLA WEIGHS IN ON ORLANDO PIRATES’ POOR FORM
Dladla has revealed that Pirates’ recent struggles are caused by their influential players who haven’t been coming to party in the last four matches.
“For me, why Pirates hasn’t been playing well in last few games is that they got influential players who haven’t been doing that well,” Dladla told FARPost.
“Players like Monnapule Saleng haven’t been coming through. You also have Zakhele Lepasa who hasn’t been scoring those goals for Pirates.
“Philip Ndlondlo, obviously a quick player in the middle, and when he’s having a good game you see a lot of chances being created.”
The 44-year-old retired footballer went on to slam Pirates’ leaky defence and how it cost the team in their last four games.
“You can never win championships with the defence like that. The way the likes of Tapelo Xoki are playing, I don’t know what’s going on this season. They have been conceding goals and not lots of goals but one goal and they struggle to come back,” he added.
Interestingly, last season, Pirates progressed to the final of the MTN8 after defeating the Tshwane giants 3-0 in the second leg of the tournament’s semi-final at the New Peter Mokaba in Polokwane. The first leg ended goalless.
A goal from Kermit Erasmus and Monnapule Saleng’s brace was enough to earn Pirates a spot in the finals, where they went on to beat AmaZulu 1-0 in the final.
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