Does Orlando Pirates Have A Leadership Crisis On The Pitch?

The Buccaneers have had a legacy of men of authority on the field in recent times guys like Tso Vilakazi, Benson Mhlongo, Lucky Lekgwathi, Siyabonga Sangweni,Happy Jele to mention but a few. These were big characters who often led by example through their ability and commitment, but can the same be said of Sibisi? Is he even good enough to lace these men’s boots? They drove the team with exceptional consistency on the field, Mbokazi was on the way of joining this illustrious captains as shown by the few matches he captained the Buccaneers last season.The weakness of not fixing anything when results are coming well

When the team is winning and also collecting clean sheets along the way, credit goes to the defense as a collective. This creates an illusion that the entire defense is doing great work, this same illusion is what has clouded the judgement of both Orlando Pirates technical team as well as the fans. No one sees the need to fix anything , as everything is deemed alright. Not even the worry of not having a main striker pumping in the goals and the over reliance on red-hot Rele Mofokeng. The Buccaneers have left TS Galaxy, Golden Arrows in their wake via an avalanche of goals with the Bucs’ defense not leaking any goals however for those who watched the matches can attest that the  clean sheets where mainly due to the heroics of their goalkeeper Sipho Chaine than it was due to a rock solid defensive line. Many a time, they were exposed and found in sixes and sevens only for Chaine to come to their rescue.

Sibisi’s vulnerability 

The tell tell signs of Sibisi’s vulnerability started last season against Mamelodi Sundowns, Lucas Ribeiro literally mopped the floor with Sibisi in the 4-1 massacre of the Buccaneers, it didn’t help on the day that he was partnered with Tapelo Xoki another suspect in the Buccaneers defense. Ribeiro had them for lunch that day at Loftus. Then along came Mayele in the CAF Champions League semifinal, he was left on the floor down the right channel of the Bucs’ defense. Then came the AFCON finals against Cameroon he was found wanting in a number of situations be it failing to deal with arial balls and foot races when faced in one on one situations against the Cameroon attack. Hugo Broos had to play 3 centre backs against Cameroon but that didn’t help, a coach plays 3 centre backs when he can’t trust his 2 centre backs to do the job.

Can The Buccaneers still usurp the League from Sundowns?

Considering that Pirates has been dropping points in unexpected moments on the road, at Siwelele and recently at Richards Bay, it’s tough to claim that they can finally win the league since the 2011/2012 season. Sundowns is faced with the CAF Champions League that has elluded them since they last won it in the 2016 season. This may distract them but looking at how they are winning matches in between the African safari fixtures we will wait and see.