Orlando Pirates eye Gallants clash to bounce back from early League setback

Orlando Pirates’ push for a strong start to the Betway Premiership hit an early stumbling block as they fell 1-0 at home to Sekhukhune United — a result that underlined the urgent need to settle their new arrivals into the squad.

With title ambitions high after last season’s close finish, the Buccaneers must put the disappointment behind them quickly as they travel to the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium to face Marumo Gallants on Tuesday night (7.30pm kick-off) in what will be a must-win encounter to steady their early-season wobble.

This season has been earmarked for a strong title challenge, but coach Abdeslam Ouaddou and several new recruits got their first taste of league action on Saturday — the defeat a sharp reminder of the challenge of building cohesion.

Missing key players and still forging fresh combinations, the Sea Robbers found it far harder to break down a stubborn Sekhukhune side than they did Polokwane City in their 2-0 MTN8 triumph a week earlier.

“Unfortunately we didn’t start like we would have wanted in terms of the intensity we wanted to put on that game,” Ouaddou admitted.

“We started slow and waited until we conceded. We then saw a different Orlando Pirates with a different rhythm — chasing the game, trying to equalise.

“We saw some interesting things even though we lost, but the bad thing is starting badly in the opening match of the league. It’s not the way we wanted to start.”

Pirates now face a confident Gallants side who began their campaign with a 2-1 away win over Richards Bay, with Mamelodi Sundowns also looming in the MTN8 semi-finals this weekend. Ouaddou believes the busy fixture list could work in their favour, but they must be more clinical.

“There’s a big difference between the intensity in the MTN8 game and the first half on Saturday,” he said.

“The contest was interesting in terms of chances, but you have to be efficient in the box. If you’re not, the opponent can take one chance and finish — and that’s what happened.

“There is disappointment, but in football you quickly get the chance to play again, and we definitely have to try to win the next game.”

The Buccaneers’ last visit to Bloemfontein ended in a 2-0 defeat to Siwelele sa Marumo — inflicted, ironically, by Ouaddou himself. Last season, however, Pirates had the upper hand, thrashing Gallants 8-1 at home and edging them 1-0 in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals.

Hat-trick hero from that league win, Tshegofatso Mabasa, has yet to feature this season. On his absence, Ouaddou said: “Mabasa is available, and when we call on him he will perform and give his best.

"Of course, questions will be asked because the strikers we had on didn’t score. We have a lot of players this season and everyone will get their chances at the right moment.”