Former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs has been forced to eat humble pie, admitting he was wrong to prematurely write off the Buccaneers’ title chances after overestimating Mamelodi Sundowns’ ability to lock down the Betway Premiership race.
Following Sundowns’ shock 3-2 defeat to TS Galaxy in their final league match of the season, the title race swung back into Pirates’ hands. A victory against Durban City FC this Saturday afternoon in Soweto will officially crown the Buccaneers as champions with a game to spare, courtesy of their superior goal difference over the Brazilians.
Josephs, like many pundits, had previously declared the title race over after the Sea Robbers dropped critical points in fixtures against Siwelele FC, Sundowns, Richards Bay FC, and Kaizer Chiefs several weeks ago. However, the former Bafana Bafana shot-stopper has now been forced to eat humble pie following the latest twist in the Betway Premiership campaign.
Admitting that the nature of the Premiership title race caught him off guard, Josephs has called for accountability among analysts who prematurely counted the Buccaneers out. Speaking on the Soccer Beat podcast, he explained that his previous scepticism stemmed more from frustration with Pirates’ missed opportunities and an overreliance on Sundowns’ historical dominance than an outright dismissal of the Sea Robbers’ capabilities.
MOENEEB JOSEPHS MAKES U-TURN ON BETWAY PREMIERSHIP TITLE RACE
“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 former shot-stopper admitted that he had overhyped the Brazilians based entirely on the fearsome reputation the Tshwane giants had established over the years.
‘THIS IS NOT THE SAME SUNDOWNS WE KNOW’
He further explained that because Pirates were dropping points themselves, they failed to recognise that this was not the same Sundowns side that had dominated and won the previous eight league titles in a row. According to Josephs, that is where he made the wrong call.
“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.”
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