By Dylan Bettencourt
- Orlando Pirates host Durban City at Orlando Stadium on Saturday, knowing one win will give them the Betway Premiership title.
- Mamelodi Sundowns lost to TS Galaxy in their final league match, leaving Pirates in control of the title race.
Orlando Pirates need one win to become Betway Premiership champions.
The Buccaneers host Durban City at Orlando Stadium on Saturday at 3pm. If they win, they will end their 14-year wait for the league title.
Mamelodi Sundowns have already played their final league match. They lost 3-2 to TS Galaxy on Wednesday and cannot collect any more points.
That has left Pirates in control. They no longer need favours from anyone else.
Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou said his players must block out the noise and focus on the game in front of them.
“We are focusing on ourselves; our destiny is between our feet,” said Ouaddou.
“We just focus on how we want to play, how we want to be organised. You can see a strong Pirates, we don’t concede goals, and we score goals.”
Ouaddou said he has told the players not to wait for help from other teams.
“I just told the boys to focus on how we want to play. We are not expecting anything from anybody, we are focusing on our team, and we are really confident of what we want to achieve,” he said.
“We feel strong and we are going to prepare for the game with a lot of focus and we will give everything.”
History also favours Pirates.
According to Phakaaathi, Durban City, previously Maritzburg United, have never beaten Pirates at Orlando Stadium in the PSL era.
Pirates also beat Durban City 1-0 away in Durban earlier this season.
Now they have the title in their own hands. Beat Durban City, and the wait is over.
Pictured above: Orlando Pirates players celebrating.
Image source: @orlandopirates
