Orlando Pirates relaunch pursuit for consistent results

Orlando Pirates have struggled for consistency in the ongoing season, and prepare to welcome a team that has found just that in recent weeks.

The Buccaneers host Maritzburg United at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night in search of only their fourth win in the league.

While the two teams have bagged the same number of victories, it is the Team of Choice who will come into the clash in confident mood, having won all of their games since the end of September.

Confident Maritzburg United loom large

For Pirates, the same period has been a bit less fruitful, with just two wins in their last five games in all competitions.

Interim coach Rhulani Mokwena has, however, noted an improvement in results, compared to his first few weeks in charge.

“Let’s put things into perspective and look at Pirates’ last five games, including against Chiefs. There’s two wins, two draws and one defeat and if that is not an upward trajectory and you don’t see that as progress, then I don’t know what is,” he said.

Rhulani Mokwena

Orlando Pirates still in the title chase

Despite their indifferent form, a win on Tuesday could propel Orlando Pirates as high as third spot in the standings.

With a long way to go before the league is decided, Mokwena is aware that a bit of consistency could bring them back in the hunt for the title.

“No team can win each and every single game.

“But where we are coming from, losing games and conceding goals week in week out, we have managed to stabilise the ship. The reality is this: we are two points off fourth spot. It makes the next league games very important so that we can get a little bit closer to compete for the championship. And that is what we have to focus on for now. There’s a lot of progress and positives. If you look at basically the results and not consider penalties, so for us we don’t feel the pressure and the crisis. We have proven we can win games, ours now is to find a bit of consistency and win two, three, four games in a row.”

Following Tuesday’s fixture, Pirates take on rivals Kaizer Chiefs for the second time in the space of seven days.