If the Orlando Pirates want to end a season that promised a lot but delivered very little on a high note, they will need to be cautious when they play Magesi FC.
While the other clubs have finished the season already, the Buccaneers still have a game remaining in their schedule.
They will host the Premier Soccer League newcomers Magesi FC at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday.
This comes after a number of Pirates games were postponed during their group stage campaign in the CAF Champions League, which ended tragically in the semifinals against Pyramids FC in Cairo, Egypt.
Lost opportunity in Champions League
After winning the MTN8 trophy for three seasons in a row, the Buccaneers, under Jose Ribeiro, set themselves up for a treble.
The team did a magnificent job reaching the semifinal of the Champions League without a single loss and survived a major scare against Pyramids in the first leg in South Africa, but they squandered a significant opportunity in Cairo when they lost 3-2 on aggregate.
In the Nedbank Cup, they reached the final against archrivals Kaizer Chiefs, but Amakhosi wanted to win more than Pirates.
Consequently, Chiefs snatched the trophy from Bucs and ended a 10-year cup drought.
Magesi FC had a decent season in their maiden appearance in the Betway Premiership. A win for Dikwena tsa Meetsi, who are coached by the wily and seasoned coach Owen da Gama, could see them jumping from position 13 to number nine on the log.
This could likely push Chiefs to number 10 on the log standings.
And if Golden Arrows, who are perched on number 12, are able to beat SuperSport United in their rescheduled fixture, they will occupy number 10 and Amakhosi could end up finishing on 11th position
Bucs drew 1-1 against Usuthu
In their last league match on Saturday, Pirates fought back from a goal down to salvage a point against AmaZulu in a Durban encounter that finished 1-1 at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The result saw the Soweto giants hit 60 points in the league ahead of their season finale at home to Magesi.
Pirates’ dominant start on the day against Usuthu was only reflected through ball-possession stats, as the home side looked more likely to find an early breakthrough.
Therefore, the Buccaneers must enhance their performance to avoid concluding the season with disappointment.
Bucs fans will be hoping that new guns Simphiwe Selepe, Boitumelo Radiopane, Siyabonga Ndlozi, Yanga Madiba, and Thuso Moleleki continue to impress after getting some much-needed game time.
