Orlando Pirates’ goalless draw against Sekhukhune United has dealt a blow to their Betway Premiership title ambitions after they failed to reclaim top spot.
The Buccaneers travelled to Polokwane knowing that only a win would suffice, but Babina Noko stood firm to deny Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side maximum points, a result that ultimately did more harm than good.
With title rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns both securing victories, the pressure was firmly on Pirates to respond.
Three points would have seen them move two points clear of Sundowns with a game in hand, strengthening their grip on the title race.
Instead, the stalemate has left Pirates playing catch-up once again and raises concerns that this could be the start of a familiar mid-season wobble.
Why Orlando Pirates should be worried
Last season, the Buccaneers found themselves in a similar position, firmly in the title race with games in hand. However, costly draws and defeats at crucial moments saw them fail to capitalise, allowing Sundowns to pull away and eventually claim the league by a margin of more than 12 points.
History threatens to repeat itself if Ouaddou’s men continue to struggle in front of goal.
Prior to the Sekhukhune encounter, Orlando Pirates had won nine of their previous 10 matches and looked every bit a side capable of mounting a serious title challenge.
Failing to win their first match after the break is therefore a worrying sign, particularly given the painful lessons of last season.
With the quality at their disposal, Orlando should be scoring regularly and asserting themselves as genuine contenders.
Any further slip-ups in their remaining fixtures this month will inevitably invite questions about their title credentials. Their lack of CAF involvement should give them some sort of advantage.