Njabulo Blom of Kaizer Chiefs challenged by Kermit Erasmus of Orlando Pirates during the DStv Premiership 2022/23 match between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium, in Johannesburg on the 29 October 2022 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Orlando Pirates need to find their way to goal
Orlando Pirates have shown signs of significant improvement under Jose Riveiro but is the Spaniard stifling the team?
Njabulo Blom of Kaizer Chiefs challenged by Kermit Erasmus of Orlando Pirates during the DStv Premiership 2022/23 match between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium, in Johannesburg on the 29 October 2022 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Orlando Pirates have shown signs of significant improvement under Jose Riveiro but is the Spaniard stifling the team?
However, the one thing that has remained consistent is their struggle to find the net.
Pirates’ most fluent attacking performances came in cup games, and their best showing in attack featured late goals against an opponent throwing the kitchen sink at them, in the league, though, the pickings have been slim.
Orlando Pirates’ struggles show in the stats
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Monnapule Saleng is the leading goalscorer for Pirates across all competitions. However, Saleng’s PSL scoring is confined to his brace against Golden Arrows.
Orlando Pirates’ struggles in front of goal have been chronic, and the out-and-out striker’s in the squad have also battled for game-time.
Pirates brought two strikers in during the extended transfer window. First signing Cameroonian marksman Bienvenu Eva Nga. Then seemingly deciding that wasn’t working out and bringing Kermit Erasmus back from Mamelodi Sundowns.
Orlando Pirates have now brought in veteran attacker Ndumiso Mabena, hoping he can help them crack the code. Meanwhile, Cameroonian forward Marou Souaibou also appears bound for Mayfair.
All the while, Evidence Makgopa, Zakhele Lepasa and others continue to struggle for time on the park.
Can they turn it around
Erasmus has struck up a promising partnership with Saleng, but the long FIFA World Cup break came at the wrong time for them in their quest to get into their attacking stride.
Saleng has earned his promotion due to the faltering of the club’s senior attackers.
The stat that reveals Orlando Pirates’ problems is that no player in their ranks has managed to score in more than one league match this season.
Pirates have missed the only spot-kick they have been awarded this season. Star defender Nkosinathi Sibisi was the man who stepped up to take the kick amid a crisis in confidence in the strikers. He fluffed it.
In 13 PSL matches in 2022/23 so far, Orlando Pirates have hit the back of the net just nine times, with goals coming from seven different players.
The Sea Robbers have been kept scoreless in six matches this season, but it is not all doom and gloom.
They haven’t lost in any league match when they have managed to get onto the scoresheet and remain in contention for a continental football berth.
