Former Junior Khanye believes Orlando Pirates were overwhelmed by pressure during their goalless draw against Durban City on Saturday afternoon.
The Buccaneers needed a victory at home to clinch the Betway Premiership title but failed to break down a disciplined Durban City side.
The result means Pirates must now beat Orbit College in their final match of the season next weekend to secure the championship.
Khanye, now a football analyst, admitted before kickoff that he expected Pirates to struggle in such a high-pressure encounter despite the electric atmosphere created by a packed crowd.
Speaking on iDiski TV, the outspoken pundit questioned coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s team selection and felt nerves got the better of the Soweto giants.
“I feel sorry for the fans. Going into the game, let’s talk about Orlando Pirates’ starting eleven. I was surprised by Ouaddou’s decision to start with this boy, Simphiwe Selepe, especially in a game of this magnitude,” he said.
“He got a yellow card in the early stages. I wasn’t surprised because when you don’t play for a long time, you become nervous and lose possession often.”
Khanye added that several key Pirates players failed to rise to the occasion.
“Let’s be honest, Pirates were nervous. Nobody wanted to take responsibility. Mofokeng and Tito were off. Durban City were aggressive today,” he added.
The former Kaizer Chiefs winger revealed that although he backed Pirates to win the league overall, he had predicted a draw against Durban City because of the pressure surrounding the encounter.
Khanye predicted Pirates to draw
“I suspected this was going to happen,” Khanye said.
“Pirates were nervous because their players are not used to such pressure, especially with that crowd. This was a decisive match. Psychologically, they are defeated.”
Despite the disappointing result, Khanye still believes the Buccaneers will bounce back and defeat Orbit College to finally clinch the league title.