Orlando Pirates face a critical juncture in the Betway Premiership title race before their major stars jet off to Morocco for the 2025 AFCON. Can ex-Kaizer Chiefs boss Gavin Hunt throw a spanner in the works?
Hunt, now at the helm of newly-promoted Durban City, has made a brilliant start with his new club, collecting 18 points from his first 12 games.
Pirates meet Durban City on November 29th, their final match before the 2025 AFCON break.
Orlando Pirates can top the table heading into AFCON
The Buccaneers have fixtures at home to rock-bottom Chippa on 25 November and then a trip to Durban City on 29 November before Sundowns play their next league match, away to Siwelele on 2 December. That Durban City match is the toughest on paper. Gavin Hunt’s newcomers have made a great start, winning 18 points after 12 games at a rate of 1.5 PPG. If Pirates win there, it would be a big statement of intent and a position at the summit going into the AFCON break, if they can also beat Chippa. However, dropped points at the Mbombela would plant some seeds of doubt. Gavin Hunt’s team have only lost one match at home all season, ironically, that was against his former employers, Kaizer Chiefs.
Is Mbule the real deal?
Sipho Mbule has made a satisfactory start to his career with Pirates. However, old habits die hard. Despite getting his hands on the MTN8 title already this term, the 27-year-old playmaker has so far failed to register a single goal or assist in 14 appearances for the Sea Robbers. It might be justified to claim that Mbule lacks killer instinct at the sharp end of the pitch. Can the man known as ‘The Master Chef’ start making magical things in the kitchen again?