Gavin Hunt Explains Why Orlando Pirates Will End Mamelodi Sundowns' Dominance
- A former Kaizer Chiefs coach has come out to explain why he thinks Orlando Pirates can end Mamelodi Sundowns' dominance in the Premier Soccer League this season
- The veteran South African coach shared his views about the strength of the Buccaneers squad compared to the Brazilians this campaign
- The Sea Robbers have already won two trophies (MTN8 and Carling Knockout Cup) this season under their new manager, Abdeslam Ouaddou
Orlando Pirates are being predicted to finally clinch the Premier Soccer League title this season, ending Mamelodi Sundowns' dominance in the Betway Premiership.
Source: Getty Images
In the last three campaigns, the Sea Robbers consistently finished as runners-up to Mamelodi Sundowns under the former coach Jose Riveiro. Riveiro later moved to Al Ahly after his contract ended, but was dismissed after only a few months into the job by the Egyptian Premier League giants.
Since taking over from the Spaniard, Abdeslam Ouaddou has successfully kept the Pirates in contention in all competitions, as they aim to win the league for the first time in over ten years, following a prolonged dominance by Sundowns. The only blemish under the Moroccan tactician is the Soweto giants being knocked out of the CAF Champions League by Saint Eloi Lupopo in the preliminary stage.
They continue to perform well in domestic cup competitions under the Moroccan coach, as he led them to a record fourth successive MTN8 titles after defeating Stellenbosch FC in the 2023 season's final.
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Hunt discusses Pirates ending Sundowns' PSL dominance
Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt, who was recently fired by Durban City after losing his last league fixture against Orlando Pirates, explained why he believes the Sea Robbers, currently at the top of the Premier Soccer League table with 28 points—two more than Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played a game more, have an advantage.
Hunt said he doesn’t really care about the standings but noted that the Orlando Pirates squad of the last three years has had huge-impact players, which makes a difference. He added that being out of African competitions is a plus for the team, as it allows them to focus fully on domestic matches.
The former SuperSport United coach highlighted that players like Oswin Appollis, who joined the Buccaneers in the summer, make a significant impact when brought in from the bench, emphasising the strength and depth of the squad. Hunt also mentioned that the Pirates’ pace and speed hurt opposing teams, which sets them apart.
Source: Twitter
Regarding Sundowns, Hunt explained that it is very difficult for them because their focus has often been on the CAF Champions League rather than the local league, as they've dominated the Betway Premiership for the past eight seasons. He concluded that this season could be closer than in previous years due to the strength of the Orlando Pirates squad.
The Soweto giants have added the Carling Knockout Cup title to their trophies this season after beating Ouaddou's former club, Marumo Gallants, in the final of the competition this weekend, courtesy of Relebohile Mofokeng's extra-time goal.
Cardoso comments on title race
Briefly News also reported that Cardoso aired his views on the Betway Premiership title race after dropping points against Pirates.
Sundowns are hoping to retain the league title and extend their reign as champions for another season.
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Source: Briefly News
