9 January 2019, by: Leonard Solms

ORLANDO PIRATES NEED BIG MATCH TEMPERAMENT

Former Baroka coach Kgoloko Thobejane famously remarked that “football can kill you”. Although Orlando Pirates’ Absa Premiership title hopes remain very much alive, the last six weeks are bound to have given them an understanding of what he meant.

November drew to a close with the Buccaneers flying high after back-to-back Soweto Derby wins — first in the league and then the Telkom Knockout semi-final. They looked all but certain to end their four-and-a-half year trophy drought.

However, after defeat to Baroka in the TKO final and draws against Maritzburg United and Highlands Park in the league, lifting silverware once again seems a distant dream. Pirates have barely put a foot wrong since Milutin Sredojević took charge in August last year, but time and time again, they have failed to deliver on big occasions.

This observation must not be confused with an accusation that Pirates cannot stand up to the best in the country. Quite clearly, the opposite is true. They have beaten Kaizer Chiefs three times in a row and picked up four points from their last two away games against Mamelodi Sundowns.

☠ FT || @HighlandsP_FC 2 – 2 @orlandopirates
? 60′ Lorch
? 80′ Mahachi
? Mahachi
⚫⚪?⭐#AbsaPrem #Matchday#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/F4QVsGcvlC

— Orlando Pirates FC (@orlandopirates) January 5, 2019

The Sea Robbers are more than capable of turning up the heat when the eyes of the nation are on them and they’re up against opponents who force them to bring their best game. However, there’s a different type of big game in which they seem to struggle — the kind that can easily be confused with a routine fixture.

Last season, they drew 10 out of 30 Premiership games, four more than champions Mamelodi Sundowns. In 2018/19, they have already drawn seven out of 17.

Whether or not complacency is at play, Pirates clearly struggle to win seemingly manageable fixtures when it’s most needed.

Now that the odds are stacked against them, the Buccaneers are likely to stand their ground and show punters why they are one of South Africa’s biggest clubs. Under ‘Micho’, they have always showed confidence when everybody else wrote them off.

All they need now is to turn winning from a hobby into a habit.

Leonard Solms

Leonard Solms is a sports journalist who features regularly on various local and international platforms including ESPN, New Frame, FARPost, Tagged Online and Careers Magazine, as well as this one. He enjoys the occasional bet and the most important tip he can give you is to bet within your means.