Buccaneers need some Excellent inspiration

By Paul Martin

While Bafana Bafana striker Excellent Walaza is seen as the man to lead Orlando Pirates to greener pastures, only the brave will bet hard-earned cash on a Buccaneers win over in-form Santos in a Nedbank Cup first round encounter at the Athlone stadium on Sunday (3pm kickoff).

Realistically, though, Owen da Gama's charges have a better chance of going on a winning run of cup matches than they do of pipping Ajax Cape Town and SuperSport United for the Absa Premiership title, but one has to look back to 2000, for the Buccaneers' last major cup success - the BP Top 8.

There are reasons galore. The changing of head coaches, too many big name players who have rested on their laurels when having worn a Pirates jersey, some poor choices in player purchases and more.

In front of young goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, Pirates have been found wanting with the likes of Kelebogile Mabe, Tonic Chabalala, Lucas Thwala and Innocent Mdledle cracking under pressure.

Pirates have game attackers in Lebohang Mokoena, Joseph Makhanya, Teko Modise, Bennet Chenene and Walaza, but too many right-footed midfielders, and not enough options on the left.

Da Gama can only fix matters at the end of the season.

Santos, meanwhile, have been riding high since the arrival of new coach David Bright and will be looking for more of the same passion and commitment that saw them beat Pirates in a league fixture in the Mother City three weeks ago.

The hosts will be boosted by the return from suspension of young goal-getter Erwin Isaacs.

The People's Team are fifth on the Premiership table and haven't lost in the league in six outings, but league form goes out the window when it comes to cup matches.

In other cup matches today, Free State Stars will look to put last week's 4-1 league humiliation by Kaizer Chiefs behind them when they take on Platinum Stars at Goble Park in Bethlehem.

Northern Cape-based Safa Castle League side Young Ones face AmaZulu at the Princess Magogo stadium in Durban while at the King Zwelithini stadium, national First Division outfit Nathi Lions should hold too much strike-power for Vodacom League North West cup pretenders North West Shining Stars. Another Castle League side, Inspection FC from Mpumalanga, face up to the challenge of PSL basement side Black Leopards at the Secunda stadium.

National First Division side and promotion hopefuls Mpumalanga Black Aces take on Premiership strugglers Thanda Royal Zulu at the Atlantic stadium in Witbank while First Division side Bloemfontein Young Tigers face little-known Matatiel Professionals at the Thandanani Stadium.