Orlando Pirates will look to hit the ground running in their conquest to end their trophy drought when they face Highlands Park in their 2018-19 PSL opening encounter, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.
Following an excellent debut season under the watchful eyes of Milutin Sredojevic and Rhulani Mokwena, the Sea Robbers will look to build on the momentum that saw them narrowly finish as runners-up to Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2017-18 campaign.
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They will, however, have to hang tough against the Lions of the North, who dismantled their opponents in the National First Division on their way to securing promotion to the PSL – a year after initially going under.
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Pirates unveiled nine new players, which include Brilliant Khuzwayo, Vincent Pule, Ben Motshwari, Meshack Maphangule, Asavela Mbekile, Linda Mntambo, Paseka Mako and Kudakwashe Mahachi.
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Sredojevic’s side embarked on a pre-season tour to Zambia in a bid to acclimatise to conditions that they will face for their Caf Champions League journey in the new season.
Although the trip was done primarily to ready the team for their African exploits, Micho made it known in no uncertain terms that his team are ready to vie for honours in the new campaign.
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‘We feel like fish out of the water during the pre-season. The Absa Premiership competition is our water and we’re ready to swim,’ he told the media at a press conference.
Owen Da Gama’s side also dipped into the transfer market, acquiring twelve new players for the new season, which include veteran defender Bevan Fransman from Maritzburg United.
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Despite acknowledging the threat that Pirates possess, Da Gama revealed that an opening PSL encounter against a team of Pirates’ magnitude isn’t such a terrible thing, citing his team’s need to raise their game.
‘Orlando Pirates were a fantastic team last season,’ he said in a press conference.
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‘They ended second in the league, and you know at one stage with a bit of luck they would have won the league. They are a fantastic team, and when you come into the PSL, you want to play against the best.
‘They raise your game. They allow you to go to another level. It’s the best possible start that we could have,’ he concluded.
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Pirates will be without the services of Khuzwayo, Thabo Qalinge and Thembinkosi Lorch due to injury, while new signing Mabaso serves a suspension after being red-carded in the final match of the season for Chippa United. The same story applies to Highlands midfielder Mothobi Mvala.
The two sides clash at the Orlando Stadium on 4 August with kick-off set for 8:15pm.
Photo: Orlando Pirates’ official Twitter account
