Orlando Pirates have a genuine shot at winning the Betway Premiership. Let’s look at their deep squad before they go hunting for an MTN8 treble.
Spoiled for choice in the striking department
With his recent brace off the bench against Polokwane, Evidence Makgopa has given Pirates boss Jose Riveiro a massive headache in attack. Last season’s Golden Boot winner Tshegofatso Mabasa is still likely to start, but Makgopa gives Pirates another dimension off the bench with his relentless channel-running and underrated linkup play. However, last season’s Golden Boot winner Tshegofatso Mabasa is the first choice for the number 9 role but there’s one spicy factor to add. Makgopa, not Mabasa, started Pirates’ most recent Cup final against Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup. Will we see Riveiro spring a similar surprise again? Could we see both on the pitch at the same time if the Buccaneers are chasing the game?
There’s also the intriguing prospect of Boitumelo Radiopane, who’s a relatively unknown prospect at this level.
Riches in the back five at Orlando Pirates
Meluzi Buthelezi can’t even get a game between the sticks. Sipho Chaine is the undisputed number one, reinforced by his stellar display in the recent Nedbank Cup final with his penalty save and superb distribution, and that’s not changing anytime soon. Meanwhile, in central defence, Pirates have five genuine options for two places. Thabiso Sesane and Olisa Ndah have been the starting pair in the league so far, but club skipper Innocent Maela deputized for the injured Ndah last time out against Richards Bay and kept a clean sheet. Nkosinathi Sibisi and Tapelo Xoki also desperately want a place in the starting XI.
Likely Bucs starting XI vs Stellies in the MTN8 final
Olisa Ndah and Monnapule Saleng are both major injury doubts. It’s a toss-up between Gilberto and Kabelo Dlamini to start on the right-hand side of the attacking midfield trio. Gilberto started against Richards Bay but Dlamini made a match-winning cameo off the bench. Coach Jose Riveiro must also make a difficult decision between whether to start Tshegofatso Mabasa or Evidence Makgopa. Mabasa is usually the first-choice but Makgopa was picked to start the recent Nedbank Cup final. Big-game player Saleng will start if he’s deemed fit enough, and Maela’s experience could see him stay in the side too. Plenty of big choices for Mr Riveiro. Deano Van Rooyen is ineligible after representing Stellies in this competition already this term.
Predicted XI: Chaine; Monyane, Sesane, Sibisi, Hotto; Makhaula, Mbatha; Dlamini, Maswanganyi, Mofokeng; Mabasa
Are Stellies going to upset the odds and beat Pirates to win the MTN8 crown?
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