‘May is still far’: Orlando Pirates can still close the gap and win the league title!

Orlando Pirates face a challenging 15-point gap if they hope to win the Betway Premiership this season.

Currently, the Buccaneers are in second place on the log, trailing Mamelodi Sundowns, but they do have four games in hand. The Sea Robbers started the season strong, winning their first seven matches and briefly topping the Betway Premiership. However, three recent defeats have caused them to lose ground to Masandawana.

Despite a recent setback against TS Galaxy, Sundowns have managed to win their last 15 league matches, widening their gap over Orlando Pirates. The league title is still within reach for the Buccaneers. If they win all their games in hand and then defeat Sundowns, they could potentially take the top spot in the league based on goal difference.

Historically, no team in the PSL has come from behind a 15-point gap to win the league. Sundowns themselves won the league in the 2019/20 season after being 13 points behind Kaizer Chiefs. Amakhosi had been on top for 28 of the 30 matchdays but ultimately faltered.

On the other hand, Sundowns are unlikely to lose their grip on the league, given their experience and strong squad. The pressure is now on Pirates to win most of their remaining matches while hoping their rivals drop significant points along the way.

Can Orlando Pirates close the gap before May?

Pitso Mosimane once remarked, “May is too far,” after Kaizer Chiefs extended their lead over Sundowns in 2020. That comment turned out to be true, as Amakhosi ended up losing the league to ‘Jingles’ on the final day. Bucs head coach Jose Riveiro remains optimistic.

Although Orlando Pirates have won 12 of their 15 matches, they still have a considerable gap to bridge in order to compete directly with Sundowns. The two teams faced each other a few weeks ago, with the Brazilians securing a convincing 4-1 victory at Loftus Versfeld. With four games in hand, the Sea Robbers have the opportunity to close the gap, and if they can get closer to Sundowns, they might put pressure on Cardoso’s team.

May is still far but Orlando Pirates need maximum points to close down the gap considerably.

Can the Buccaneers catch Sundowns?

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