How Orlando Pirates lost the league to Sundowns

Orlando Pirates’ wheels have officially came off having lost four of their last nine league matches. Should Jose Riveiro focus mainly on CAF?

Orlando Pirates out of the title race. Image: @TheSeaRobbers/X

Orlando Pirates seemed to be on track in the Betway Premiership, having won their opening seven league matches.

However, a 1-0 defeat to Stellenbosch brought them back to reality, and another loss to Cape Town City weeks later raised concerns. The Buccaneers suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat against Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld, leaving their title hopes hanging by a thread.

This past weekend, the Sea Robbers faced their fourth league defeat in nine matches. As it stands, Orlando Pirates are out of the league race, with Sundowns heavily favored to claim their eighth consecutive title. Despite having four games in hand, it seems unlikely that Pirates will capitalize on that advantage to make the Betway Premiership competitive or set up a thrilling finish.

So, how and when did Orlando Pirates lose their chance at the league title?

The loss to Stellenbosch disrupted their momentum and marked a turning point in their season. Having previously led the Betway Premiership, the Buccaneers were overtaken by their rivals and never regained their form. The 1-0 defeat to Cape Town City came as a shock, leading many to question Pirates’ title credentials.

They had an opportunity to challenge for the title in their match against Sundowns but fell short, suffering a decisive 4-1 loss that proved to be a nail in the coffin for José Riveiro’s squad. It is likely that Orlando Pirates will finish in second place in the league, but their focus should now shift to the CAF Champions League.

The Buccaneers have qualified for the quarter-finals of the CAF CL for the first time since 2013. They have MC Algers later this month and if the focus shifts to the continental tournament, they might go all the way. As for their league aspirations, it seems Orlando Pirates might have to wait another year to end their drought.