Former captain Lucky Lekgwathi admits Orlando Pirates defeat to Kaizer Chiefs is Bucs’ PSL title failure in 2019/2020 season
Orlando Pirates former captain Lucky Lekgwathi has revealed defeat to Kaizer Chief back in February this year is the reason Bucs’ have failed to compete for the 2019-2020 ABSA Premiership title.
Pirates currently sit fourth on the Absa Premiership league standings and while they are still mathematically in the race for the title, there was a point in the season where they were closer to the top.
At a point especially in early stages of the season, Pirates were among the clear favorites to lift this season’s PSL title until their slim loss to leaders Kaizer Chiefs in February that turn their good fortune to bad.
“Our other downfall was losing against Kaizer Chiefs, eish! If you want to compete for the league title, you make sure to beat the teams above you and it was unfortunate that we lost to Chiefs,” he told Soccer Laduma.
“That’s when our chances of challenging for the title took a knock because if we beat Chiefs, we’d be in a completely different position now.
“We were going to play (Mamelodi) Sundowns before the lockdown and I knew we were going to beat them because Sundowns are scared of us.
“Having said that, not all is lost and the boys have been doing well. The downfall was losing to Chiefs, like I said – those are the games you don’t want to lose. Relegation-threatened teams and title challengers,” Lekgwathi added.
Now Pirates chances of crowing the league title has become slimmer, living 8 points below Kaizer Chiefs on top of the table and 4 points behind second place Mamelodi Sundown with less than 10 games to end the PSL season.
While Pirates’ push to top of the PSL table has become difficult now with Sundowns recognized as Chiefs’ main title contenders, Bucs’ are been chased at the fourth position by Maritzburg United- who are only a point behind Pirates for qualification for African football next season.
Lekgwathi is arguably Orlando Pirates‘ most successful captain, having captained them to six trophies in 2 seasons (2010/10 & 2011/12) under Dutch legend, Ruud Krol, making Pirates the only Double Treble Champions since the formation of the PSL.
He was very instrumental in ending Orlando Pirates‘ 8 year league drought, scoring crucial goals in the process, most notably a winner against Supersport United.
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