Former Orlando Pirates captain Edward ‘Magents’ Motale has urged the Buccaneers not to abandon the tactics they used against Durban City FC last weekend as they tackle Orbit College FC in a Betway Premiership title decider at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.
The Soweto giants will be in Mpumalanga for a season-defining clash against the relegation-threatened Mswenko Boys. It would be an afternoon they could end a 14-year PSL title drought or capitulate and surrender the title to log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns on an occasion where their character faces the ultimate test this season.
Sitting second on the table, Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side has two points fewer than Sundowns. Maximum points are non-negotiable for Pirates to be crowned champions and halt Masandawana’s eight-year dominance of the PSL.
Pirates missed a golden opportunity to close out the title race last weekend. Despite playing before a packed, passionate home crowd at the Orlando Amstel Arena, the Buccaneers slumped to a 0-0 stalemate against a resilient Durban City side.
It is the kind of choking they would want to avoid against Orbit College. A final-day collapse could also remind fans of how Ouaddou failed to guide his men to the CAF Champions League group stages earlier this season.
Failure to win the PSL title could make the MTN8 and Carling Knockout Cup triumphs look irrelevant. Motale wants Pirates to continue the momentum they had against Durban City, telling FARPost it remains vital in their pursuit of a treble.
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“Yes, I saw some championship character [in Pirates against Durban City]. It’s just that City defended well—Pirates had 19 corners,” Motale told FARPost. “It tells you that it was only Pirates playing. City had just one shot at goal for the whole 90 minutes. If Pirates had scored, it could have been a walkover by now.
“There was hunger in Pirates with 19 corners and something like 10 shots at goal. The match against Orbit won’t be like the City game. Orbit are weaker than City, but it’s still not going to be easy. Durban City have better players. Orbit lost five or six of their last 10 games in a row, and that says something. No tactics should change on Saturday.
“If Ouaddou changes tactics, it could be difficult for Pirates. They must use the exact same approach from the City game; it was the best. It’s just that they missed chances. They should go with the same mentality and tactics.
“I would say, ‘boys, take it from last week. Same effort, same energy, and same mentality. Take that mentality to Mbombela’. I’ll be there celebrating. It will not be a walkover, but Pirates will win.”
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