Pirates have to be perfect to put pressure on Sundowns’ title push

Malibongwe Mdletshe

‘GAMES in hand do not translate to points!’

It is a phrase that Orlando Pirates know way too well, having played bridesmaids to perennial domestic Premiership winners Mamelodi Sundowns for a couple of seasons now.

However, the same phrase has also been used against Sundowns many times before. After all, they have actually done it – this system of converting games in hand into league-winning points. Come to think about it, they do it so well that it might be one of those things that only Sundowns can do in this league.

Another thing that only Sundowns get right over any other club domestically, when it comes to league games anyways, is securing winning momentum and sustaining it. That is perhaps why hopes of an “interesting season with a tough title race” were raised at the beginning of the campaign, when the mighty Buccaneers strung together their club record of seven consecutive league wins.

Now, those hopes have since been replaced by that famous phrase about games in hand. Fine, that is fair, because indeed the Buccaneers are four league games behind the Brazilians’ 19 outings heading to this weekend action.

And to be more fair, the Buccaneers, like Brazilians, are yet to draw a league game this season. In fact, if we go even further, the Sea Robbers have only suffered one loss more than the Brazilians’ two in the elite division so far this season.

There are two other things worth mentioning.

Firstly, Sundowns have over the past few seasons, successfully cracked the code and developed a culture of collecting as many points in the league, while opening as big a gap as possible at the summit of the log, so as to remain on top, even after prolonged absences away from league action.

Those long periods of non-domestic league action are, of course, due to their consistent performances in the Caf Champions League. Away, into Africa they would go, come back a month later, collect less than a handful of wins, and bag the domestic league.

One must say, the script has started to read a bit similar this season as they now sit 15 points clear of second-placed Pirates.

We can still pin our hopes on the mighty Bucs regaining their momentum and beating the Brazilians at their own game. Unfortunately for Pirates, to carry those hopes, they will have to have a perfect season, starting with Gallants at Free State Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 5.45pm).

The Bucs must keep their side tidy and pounce on any slip-up that might hamper their great rivals. After all, they are already one loss down to Sundowns, which means if both teams were to win all their remaining games, the Brazilians would still be crowned champions ... again.

Will it help Pirates to think that far? Only time will tell.

The second point that places all the advantage with the defending champions right now though, is that besides their domestic title race, both clubs are also in the quarter-finals of the Nedbank Cup and Champions League, which spells an equally busy schedule.

That again, is something that Sundowns are all too familiar with.