Orlando Pirates Soccer Club are aiming to end the season on a high note following their commanding 3-0 victory over AmaZulu on Saturday. With five matches remaining, the Buccaneers still have a chance to secure the Betway partnership. They currently sit at the top of the log with 58 points, although rivals Mamelodi Sundowns still have two games in hand.
For Pirates to win the league, they need to win all their remaining games and hope Downs drop points in at least two matches. Having won two trophies already this season, the Buccaneers have earned around R17 million and will add R20 million if they win the league. Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou insists his side are still in with a chance to win the league. After the AmaZulu win, the Moroccan tactician felt his team should have netted seven goals. “We have accomplished the game that we wanted. Starting with the high intensity to try to suffocate this team,” the coach stated passionately. “We know that it’s a very good team. We scored in the first half. What I asked my players at halftime was to keep going.
“I think we just made some adjustments in order to keep scoring. I think, to be honest, it’s a game that could have finished with 7-0. But let’s be happy for the boys,” Ouaddou added.
Pirates could certainly win the Premiership, but much will depend on how they train. Of course, millions of rand are also at stake. A tough battle lies ahead as the Pirates face their rivals. The outcome of the matches will be determined by the talent displayed on the pitch. Since both sides in professional football are competing to win, there is no easy way to predict the victor. Ouaddou must focus on training the Pirates to control possession of the ball. Through effective strategies, the team can continue scoring goals. Pirates and AmaZulu are both formidable teams with professional players, but in the end only one can claim victory. The result can never be certain.
Improvement is always necessary, and no team should grow overconfident because of a winning streak. Both the players and the coach will need to reconsider their next strategy and how they plan to secure victory. Playing football professionally is not only about money, winning, or entertainment—it should also be about ethics and giving your best performance.
On Saturday night, Pirates scored impressively, with Relebohile Mofokeng proving to be their greatest asset.
The current buzz around Relebohile Mofokeng is understandable. The 21-year-old winger-cum playmaker bagged a hat-trick in Pirates’ 6-0 rout of TS Galaxy, and is expected to play a central role for Bafana Bafana at the World Cup in the Americas. Not a day goes by that publications aren’t speculating as to where he might be playing his club football next season.
Mofokeng is a rising star in South African soccer. He has the potential to lead any team he plays for. Professionally, he is formidable on the pitch and will be a force to be reckoned with at the 2026 World Cup. Football at the professional level is a demanding sport that tests not only how players perform at their best, but also how they cooperate as a team to secure victory.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
