A tale of two PSL giants

Kaizer Chiefs' year has gone from bad to worse, while patient Orlando Pirates turned their season around.

Kaizer Chiefs' year has gone from bad to worse, while patient Orlando Pirates turned their season around. Mazola Molefe and Njabulo Ngidi take a closer look.

Orlando Pirates

There was a time where after every win Orlando Pirates’ coach Eric Tinkler would be asked if he thinks that that win would be a turning point for the club.

Ever the optimist, Tinkler would reply with a positive answer that had a hint of caution because every time Pirates seemed to have dug themselves out of the grave they were in - somehow they would return there with a disappointing performance.

It got to a point where players were scared to make mistakes, whenever they scored first they looked vulnerable as if unaware of how to protect their lead.

Pirates only looked like themselves when they were chasing, where they would play with confidence and a bullish nature that showed they didn’t deserve to be where they were, in an unfamiliar position fighting to get into the top eight.

They were put in that position, physically and mentally, because of their CAF Confederation Cup run, where they lost in the final. It took a lot out of the team to get to the final and they suffered casualties along the way, the biggest being their engine and captain Oupa Manyisa. Losing in the final affected them mentally, because there were moments where they had self-doubt. As expected, Tinkler’s head was on the firing block.

“We’re back on a winning note which obviously is important,” Tinkler said. “It’s always about looking to get better, game after game … I have always had a huge belief in my abilities. I don’t take those things to heart. I understand that at a club like Orlando Pirates you’re expected and demanded to win. When we lose, we feel it just as much as the fans do. I have confidence in my own abilities and the squad that I have. I knew that at some stage things would turn.”

The turning point was the 3-1 win over Mpumalanga Black Aces. That coincided with Tendai Ndoro scoring his first goal in Pirates colours. He hasn’t stopped since, scoring nine goals in the club’s last eight matches to cement his place in leading the Buccaneers’ attack. Ndoro spent the first half of the season on the stands behind Kermit Erasmus, Thamsanqa Gabuza and Lehlohonolo Majoro.

His non-participating in the Confederation Cup was a blessing in disguise because he had fresh legs and was hungry to prove a point. In fact, the Buccaneers have been carried to safety by players who watched their African sojourn on television.Edwin Gyimah has been monstrous at the back with a huge work rate while Luvuyo Memela has been a revelation, bringing exuberance and attacking flair and Thabo Qalinge has made good cameos.

The Buccaneers could even finish higher than their arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs who are just three points ahead of sixth placed Pirates with five games to go. Although they would love to finish higher than their rivals, Pirates’ biggest desire is to win the Nedbank Cup which would guarantee them a place in next year’s Confederation Cup.

To do that, they have to go past league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday having already knocked out Chiefs and Cosmos to reach the quarter-finals. “We are flying,” Ndoro said. “It would be painful for us if we lose on Saturday.”

Kaiser Chiefs

It was never going to be easy for Steve Komphela in his maiden season at Kaizer Chiefs.

Ask Ernst Middendorp, taking charge of a championship-winning side is a daunting task, and some coaches hardly ever recover from a stuttering start.

Middendorp was able to finish third in his first year with Chiefs, buying himself time and earning the backing of his patient bosses. It helped that Amakhosi were able to clinch the first piece of silverware on offer in his second season, the then SAA Supa 8 (now MTN8), but the wheels came off spectacularly soon after.

Komphela, too, has been told he will be given time to rebuild in order to challenge for honours.What happened to a Chiefs outfit that won the league and cup double under Stuart Baxter last season, only to end the current campaign barren? Inconsistency between the sticks

When Komphela took over, the future of No 1 goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune was still unclear, but it is believed the coach fought hard behind the scenes to keep the Bafana Bafana star at Naturena in an effort to strengthen what was already a fragile backline with the departure of captain Tefu Mashamaite.

Khune, however, faced stiff competition from young Reyaad Pieterse, who happens to still be negotiating for a new contract at the moment. Has Pieterse asked for more game time as a condition to commit his future with the club?

Pieterse has played the most number of matches due to his own improvement and Khune’s injury woes. Komphela also called on Brilliant Khuzwayo this season, another talented goalkeeper whose attitude appears to be the contributing factor to him being sidelined. Few teams have won trophies while rotating keepers but it is not the most common formula for success.

Assuming Komphela will keep his job, as has been suggested by club chairman Kaizer Motaung, the coach needs to pick a proper first choice. Ageing playersThere are plenty of those at Chiefs - Morgan Gould (33), Siboniso Gaxa (32), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (33) and Siphiwe Tshabalala (31), although the skipper has been one of their standout performers so far this season.

Motaung has promised some sort of a clear-out ahead of the 2016/17 campaign to make way for new blood, and that should be music to Komphela’s ears. Had he decided to shake things up without assessing the stock that is currently there, the coach might have been accused of being too hasty in getting rid of the “deadwood”.

Now that everyone agrees it is necessary, Komphela can start compiling a shopping list. FitnessIt’s a minor contributing factor for Amakhosi this season, but has to be addressed in the upcoming campaign. Key players such as Khune, Letsholonyane (who is also currently negotiating a new deal) and George Lebese missing might have stifled the progress Komphela was making in the opening matches, in which Chiefs were enterprising and scoring goals.

The Star