Jonty Mark watched Orlando Pirates’ stunning comeback against Wits and wonders if they have enough to propel them to the title.
|||Madness, insanity, mayhem.
That’s really the only way to describe the way in which Orlando Pirates climbed to the top of the Absa Premiership on Saturday night.
Two-nil down to Wits, then 3-2 up, with a stoppage time winner from the oft-forgotten Katlego Mashego. It was heart-stopping stuff.
All of a sudden, Ruud Krol’s Buccaneers are in a winning position. And all of that after a first half at Orlando Stadium where Krol looked a couple of crayons short of a full set. His decision to pick Senzo Meyiwa ahead of Moeneeb Josephs backfired horribly, as the Pirates ‘keeper practically gifted Wits a two-goal lead.
Patrick Malokase was another bizarre selection, particularly ahead of Mark Mayambela. Krol had done a similar trick a week earlier, selecting Phenyo Mongala in the murderously dull 0-0 draw with Santos.
One wondered again this weekend if Mayambela had done something to upset his coach. But as Krol messed up his first half tactics, so he redeemed himself after the break. Mayambela duly arrived, and tore into Wits’ fragile self-confidence. Isaac Chansa rediscovered that tasty habit of ghosting into the box at the right moment to supply a finishing touch.
And then Mashego, who hadn’t scored a decent goal all season, sumptuously smashed home the coup de grace. Which just had to leave one wondering – could this actually be Pirates’ year to bring home the title?
Frankly, this title race is as confusing as a David Lynch movie, and to predict a winner, you may as well throw about five or six names in a hat and take a lucky dip.
But, in all the chaos, Krol’s men have as good a chance as anyone. Squad depth is much waffled about in these circles, but there’s no doubting that Krol is one of the only coaches in South Africa with the capacity to haul off a player like Daine Klate at half-time, and know he has capable attacking wide men on the bench like Mayambela and Tlou Segolela. Right now, Pirates can even afford to let Teko Modise sulk in his bedroom.
It is true that Pirates lead the table as we speak only because Sundowns have severely lost their way in the past month or so. And that Kaizer Chiefs will actually replace them at the top with victory over Bloemfontein Celtic tonight.
But the Buccaneers are also the league’s in-form team, winning six and drawing two of their last eight matches. Perhaps it’s that winning habit that gave them the confidence to bounce back against Wits, and who knows, that could propel them all the way to title glory.
Source: http://www.iol.co.za/craziness-as-bucs-go-top-1.1017322
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