Should Orlando Pirates ship tank, it will not be a head-spinning surprise. Neither will it be a thunderous crash on the proverbial iceberg. The sanity prevailing at moment to keep their heads bobbing sporadically above the parapet is that the out-of-sorts Soweto giant is not losing many games in the league but drawing, emerging with a point here, a point there. Hardly trappings to herald a silverware for an all-concurring mighty Pirates club they once were in the heydays and always mastered to keep that tradition going for decades. As the soccer ball turns at different stadia, so does the calender year. And the coveted cup tournaments rivalry firms.
In a dull goalless deadlock in Johannesburg last night, Orlando Pirates drew with the resurgent Maritzburg United in the Absa Premiership league game. Both walked away with a point apiece at the legendary Orlando Stadium.
The Buccaneers‘ ambivalent season continues unabated since Rhulani Mokoena took over on interim bases after the soft-spoken Mulitin “Micho” Sredojevic took flight in a huff. They have been blown into smithereens in the two perennial Premier Soccer League cups – i.e. the MTN Top8 and Telkom Knock-out – this season with under 50 per cent of the games played.
Meanwhile the Team of Choice are starting to hit all the right keynotes under the stewardship of Eric Tinkler, the former South Africa international midfielder. A point away from home in the PSL season that started badly for them goes a long way; and they are the TKO 2019 semi-finalists to boot. Tinkler is steadily turning Maritzburg’s fortunes.
OTHER ABSA PREMIERSHIP RESULTS:
SuperSport United 1-1 Golden Arrows
Arrows managed a point away from home after holding SuperSport 1-1 at Mbombela Stadium in the evening clash.
Abafana Bes’thende booted SuperSport United out of the Telkom cup last Saturday night at the same venue. Matsatsantsa a Pitori will evoke solace for a point garnered out of this second encounter within four days.
Bloemfontein Celtic 3-1 Highlands Park
Celtic trashed Highlands Park 3-1 at the Dr. Molemela Stadium last night.
Sera Motebang gave the home side a head start on the 21st minute. On the stroke of halftime, the Lions of the North fought back with Peter Shalulile 45th minute strike.
On the 81st minute, Ndumiso Mabena restored Celtic’s lead. A minute later [82′], Menzi Masuku put the final nail in Highlands Park’ coffin. Siwelele spirits were high; buoyed by the maximum points collected at the end of the league contest.