Monyane, Hotto, Makhaula say the same thing about Pirates’ title chase

Orlando Pirates’ trio Thabiso Monyane, Deon Hotto and Makhehlene Makhaula have said the same thing about the club’s title chase ahead of the new season.

The Buccaneers have finished second in the last two seasons under head coach Jose Riveiro. They have won four cup titles in the last two seasons with the Spaniard in charge.

The Soweto giants are eager to topple Mamelodi Sundowns, who have won the league title for seven consecutive seasons. Ahead of the new season, Monyane, Hotto and Makhaula have identified the same weakness.

The three were speaking at the 2024/25 jersey launch following their return from pre-season in Spain. They echoed the sentiment that securing the league title is their top priority.

Reflecting on past seasons, Monyane acknowledged the team’s tendency to start slow. He stressed the importance of rectifying this issue and starting the season on a high note, echoing a sentiment shared by Makhaula, who emphasised the need for a strong start to establish momentum.

WHAT MONYANE, HOTTO AND MAKHAULA THINK ABOUT THE TITLE CHASE

“One of our weaknesses in the past season was starting the season slow,” Monyane said. “We hope that this season, we work and start the season on a high.

We’re looking forward to rectifying those mistakes. That’s why we went to the preseason to work on those things.”

Makhaula exuded confidence in the squad’s capabilities, drawing on their impressive 2-0 victory over Sevilla as proof of their potential to challenge any opponent. He stressed that the league title isn’t won solely by beating top-tier rivals, highlighting the importance of consistent performance against all teams.

“The league is not won by beating [Kaizer] Chiefs, Sundowns or SuperSport [United],” said Makhaula. “It’s only six points if we beat Sundowns in both league fixtures. The most difficult teams are those we call small teams. When they play big teams, they are more motivated.”

The gritty former AmaZulu FC midfielder’s challenge to his Orlando Pirates teammates is simple. He said: “… in the first five matches, you need to make sure that you win those five or seven in a row or 10 games.”

Hotto revealed that the pressure to succeed comes from within the team, fuelled by their desire to secure the title for themselves, the supporters, and the chairman. The players are determined to maintain their position at the top of the table throughout the season.

“The only difference we need to make is consistency. We need to start very well. We don’t start well, but we finish well,” he said.

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