Orlando Pirates aim to restore winning streak against Chippa United after draw with AmaZulu

The teams Orlando Pirates and AmaZulu were unable to improve their positions in the table after the Betway Premiership match at Kings Park Stadium on Wednesday evening ended in a 1-1 draw.

Orlando Pirates took the lead thanks to a goal from Tshepanga Moremi early in the first half. However, late in the first half, Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya equalized with a penalty.

Usuthu's goalkeeper, Fawur Kuasi, caused controversy by saving a relatively harmless shot that entered the Pirates attack zone. This allowed the ball to reach Tshepanga Moremi, who scored the goal, giving Pirates the advantage and disappointing their former teammates. It is worth noting that the 23-year-old Ivorian goalkeeper will face intense scrutiny in his debut season in South Africa.

Both teams started the season with wins in the league—Pirates beat Milford FC 2-0, and AmaZulu beat Stellenbosch FC 1-0. Nevertheless, their paths diverged in the race for the first trophy of the season, the MTN8 tournament.

Pirates advanced to the semi-finals, being only two matches away from defending the title for the third consecutive time after defeating Durban City 2-1 in Orangevale.

The match at Kings Park against Usuthu was the third consecutive match for Pirates against teams from KwaZulu-Natal since the start of the season. This may be relevant for several clubs, as five teams from KZN are represented in the Premiership. Pirates' dominance over AmaZulu on a cold evening in Durban suggests that this numerical advantage of KZN might be insignificant, apart from the early stages of the season.

Moreover, if not for a refereeing error, Usuthu could have taken the lead much earlier, as the team's goal was incorrectly disallowed for offside in the 35th minute. This decision proved critical, as it prevented Usuthu from going into halftime with a 2-1 lead after Ngwenya converted the penalty with the last shot of the first half.

The referees continued to make controversial decisions when Ngwenya avoided a red card for a clear foul, reminiscent of the incident involving Lionel Messi against Algeria during the recent World Cup.

Former South African national team forward Lekhlonololo Majoro believes that the Orlando Pirates team intends to use the MTN8 quarter-final against Durban City to rectify the disappointing draw from last season.

According to Majoro, before the quarter-final match against Durban City—a team that almost denied Pirates the championship due to a draw when they needed three points—it is a great opportunity to correct the mistake. He made this statement in an exclusive interview with IOL.

Last season, Pirates managed to interrupt the nearly ten-year dominance of Mamelodi Sundowns in the Betway Premiership and are striving to continue this success. The team started the new season with a convincing 2-0 victory over Milford FC last week, demonstrating high activity.

Majoro noted that 'they have shown that they are still in attacking mode by winning their first league match.' He added that the upcoming match promises to be very interesting, and he believes that Pirates can maintain the momentum of last season and continue to win.

Majoro is well acquainted with the pressure of the big football pitch, as he played for Kaizer Chiefs and Pirates between 2011 and 2016, and also played for AmaZulu, Bidvest Wits, and Cape Town City in the top league, earning 13 caps for the national team.

Before Pirates dethroned Sundowns, they held eight consecutive league titles. Although Masandawana remain the benchmark due to their strong squad depth, Majoro emphasizes that a more competitive league ultimately raises the standard of South African football as a whole.

He also commented on other teams, stating: 'Without diminishing other teams—we have seen AmaZulu under coach Arthur, who are trying to show that they are not just there for show.' Majoro mentioned that Sekhukhune is one of the contenders, Polokwane has always surprised, and Stellenbosch did not make the top eight for the first time. He is confident that Stellies will fight desperately to return to the top eight and restore winning traditions.

Former Bafana Bafana forward Lekhlokhonoalo Majoro believes that the upcoming Betway Premiership season promises to be one of the most exciting in recent times due to increased competition.

Majoro told IOL in an exclusive interview that watching Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Kaizer Chiefs take the first, second, and third spots, respectively, is encouraging for football fans, as such a structure in the league table has not been seen in a long time.

He is well acquainted with the pressure of a big football pitch, as during his prime from 2011 to 2016 he played for Chiefs and Pirates, as well as for AmaZulu, Bidvest Wits, and Cape Town City, and also spent five years with the national team.

Before Pirates managed to overthrow Sundowns last season, who held eight consecutive championship titles, Majoro emphasizes that a more balanced and competitive league ultimately raises the standard of South African football as a whole, despite Masandawana remaining the benchmark thanks to their deep bench.

Majoro noted that he does not diminish the merits of other teams, mentioning that AmaZulu under coach Arthur demonstrates serious intentions. He also highlighted Sekhukhune and Polokwane as unexpected strengths, and noted that Stellenbosch finished outside the top eight for the first time, and is confident they will want to return to the top eight.

Despite public discussions often focusing on the 'Big Three', Majoro insists that the overall standard across the division has reached new heights. In his opinion, there is no longer such a thing as 'small teams', and any team willing to put in extra effort for three points will get them.

However, when asked about the title prediction, Majoro supported his former team in retaining the trophy, stating that he does not doubt that the 'Big Three' will fight until the end, and hopes to see Orlando Pirates defend their cup again this season.