Birds in the mood to fly past goal-shy Cosmos
Published
By Nkareng Matshe
After a hard-fought, intriguing run-in to the Premier Soccer League championship, it is a given that Orlando Pirates would like to win it - and in their own backyard as they did in the year 2000.
But there is a chance of that not materialising as Jomo Cosmos and Moroka Swallows clash on Wednesday night at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa (7.30).
Swallows, the only team with a very slim, mathematical chance of catching up with the Buccaneers, need nothing less than maximum points to delay Pirates's celebrations.
A Swallows win will mean Roy Barreto's men will have to take their home game against Wits University - another team that faltered in the last lap - on Saturday even more seriously.
The form book favours Gavin Hunt's men, leaving Pirates still short of the single point they need to clinch their second title in three years.
In Cosmos, the Birds face a side that has looked anything but classy. The aftermath of Ezenkosi's Coca-Cola Cup glory has seen them fail to win in six consecutive games.
Cosmos have scored only a solitary goal in four matches and have missed three penalties in the process.
When asked why they are going through such a dry patch, stand-in captain Manuel "Tico-Tico" Bucuane replied firmly with a short "I don't know" before slamming the phone down.
But, no doubt, Bucuane knows Cosmos will have to start scoring goals if they are to make the SAA Super 8, and will have to start on Wednesday night.
The inspiration will have to come from their lanky striker Russel Mwafulirwa, who has been unfortunate in the past four matches to see his hard work undone by some of his teammates.
The Malawian forward was the last player to score for Cosmos - in a 3-1 loss to Kaizer Chiefs, and he remains the key if his side are to return to winning ways.
By contrast, Swallows have banged in eight goals in their last three matches, and will have to turn into a scoring machine to have any chance of upstaging Pirates.
However, their chances of doing that, as coach Hunt has conceded, is as slim as seeing the feathered variety of the same name remain here for winter.
Pirates can do it themselves on Saturday - and celebrate in true style.