Orlando Pirates captain Nkosinathi Sibisi has brushed aside the notion that Orlando Pirates’ heavy influence in the Bafana Bafana squad gives them an edge over Mamelodi Sundowns ahead of Wednesday’s Betway Premiership clash at FNB Stadium.
The Buccaneers currently dominate the South Africa national team squad, taking over from the Brazilians whose players previously anchored Hugo Broos’ team. At the 2025 AFCON finals, Pirates provided nine players and Sundowns had five men.
It was a shift from the 2023 edition when Masandawana supplied 10 players to Broos’ side, while the Belgian picked five from the Soweto giants. But Sibisi is refusing to read into that as the two traditional giants prepare to clash in a high-stakes PSL match.
“It doesn’t matter [Pirates dominating Bafana], on the day, it really doesn’t really matter. It’s about who wants it the most and who is prepared to deliver on the day,” Sibisi addressed journalists at the Pirates media open day at Rand Stadium on Monday.
“So, for us, we just need to focus on the game, leave the other things out and do what we have to do.”
SIBISI’S TAKE ON SUNDOWNS CHASING PIRATES IN PSL TITLE RACE
The two heavyweights have already met this season over two legs of the MTN8 semi-finals. They drew 1-1 at Orlando Amstel Arena, before a similar result at Loftus Versfeld in the second leg.
But Pirates stormed into the final following a penalty shootout triumph. This time around, the two teams clash with Pirates leading the PSL title race as Sundowns are chasers at this stage of the season for the first time since the 2019/20 season.
“I think on Wednesday, all will not be lost and all will not be won. It’s another game of football, another 90 minutes and still 12 or 13 games to go,” said Sibisi.
“It’s not only Sundowns and us, there are also still other teams behind us as well. For us we just have to take the game as it comes. We don’t have to put pressure on ourselves.
“We have been doing well thus far, so we just have to keep on going.”
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