Jose Riveiro, head coach of Orlando Pirates has to help his team say focused for the rest of the campaign.
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Orlando Pirates are far from ready to give up on their Betway Premiership title hopes, despite suffering a significant setback at the weekend, or so says assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi.
The Buccaneers' title charge took a serious blow when they were beaten by Marumo Gallants, just as Mamelodi Sundowns tightened their grip on the top spot with an 18-point lead following their win over Kaizer Chiefs.
The defeat left Pirates in second place, but with four games in hand, they remain determined to claw their way back into the race. However, with the clock ticking down on the season, the Buccaneers know that any chance of overhauling Sundowns starts with a victory on Wednesday night when they take on Chippa United.
The Sea Robbers will be hoping for a fourth consecutive win over the Chilli Boys when the teams meet at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, which promises to be a crucial encounter for both sides.
Pirates' defeat to relegation threatened Bahlabane Ba Ntwa was a tough one to take, and the loss left them with little room for error if they are to catch Sundowns.
Chippa, for their part, have been struggling to find consistency. The Chilli Boys could only manage a draw against Richards Bay at the weekend, a result which extended their winless run to four matches across all competitions.
Sitting mid-table in ninth place, Thabo September’s side is in a battle to finish in the top half of the log, with teams like TS Galaxy, Kaizer Chiefs, and SuperSport United nipping at their heels. With just one win from their last five outings, September will be hoping his players can produce a performance to halt their slump.
For the Sea Robbers there’s no time to dwell on past failures. Their head coach, José Riveiro, will be hoping to rally his troops after their recent loss and will expect nothing less than a professional response in Gqeberha.
Giovanni Philander will be key in any hopes of Chippa pulling off an upset. While his team may have failed to score against Richards Bay, Philander has shown he can be one of the league’s most dangerous attackers.
On the opposite side, Pirates' Relebohile Mofokeng will be determined to make amends after a frustrating performance against Gallants.
The young attacker had chances to make an impact but couldn’t capitalise. Mofokeng will be eager to return to his ruthless best and help propel Pirates back to winning ways as they look to keep their title dreams alive.
Pirates and Chippa have faced off 23 times in league action since 2012/13, with the Buccaneers having the clear edge, winning 16 of those encounters. Chippa have managed just four wins, while three games have ended in draws.
When the teams met earlier this season at Orlando Stadium, Pirates recovered from a goal down to win 2-1, with Tshegofatso Mabasa converting a penalty and Monnapule Saleng scoring a late winner.