Orlando Pirates‘ hopes of winning this season’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) title rests on one of their former players.
Benni McCarthy, who is the Cape Town City head coach, could play a huge role in allowing the Buccaneers to end their five-year trophy drought.
The Citizens are scheduled to host Bucs in their penultimate league match of the season at the Athlone Stadium in the Mother City on Saturday.
This encounter is perceived to be the only banana skin left for the current PSL log leaders to manoeuvre around as they are set to host Polokwane City at the Orlando Stadium on the last day of the campaign.
Pirates will clinch their fifth PSL title should they win their last two matches and maintain their goal-difference superiority over second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns.
Legendary striker McCarthy, who inspired Pirates to their last PSL title in 2012 as a player, has faced the Soweto giants four times in competitive matches since he was appointed City head coach in June 2017.
McCarthy has masterminded two wins, one draw and tasted one defeat against the Pirates, who tend to struggle in the Mother City.
Bucs’ two away matches against the Citizens have both ended in 1-0 defeats including last season’s clash which effectively ended the Soweto giants’ hopes of winning the league title.
Ayanda Patosi’s solitary goal at the Cape Town Stadium handed City the victory over Pirates, who were then beaten to the PSL title by Mamelodi Sundowns.
City’s title ambitions are very slim and they will require a miracle to clinch the coveted trophy for the first time.
The reigning MTN champions can only lift the trophy if they win their last two games and their rivals Pirates, Sundowns, and Bidvest Wits lose their remaining games.
Having said that, McCarthy has made it known that he wants to keep the title race alive by masterminding his third successive victory over the Buccaneers in Cape Town.
So, only the most ardent of Bucs fans would bet against Benni’s side recording a win or draw against Pirates this weekend and putting a serious dent on the Soweto giants’ hopes heading into the final round of the campaign.
Furthermore, City are currently enjoying a 12-match unbeaten run at home across all competitions having registered four draws and eight victories.
The unbeaten run includes the 2-1 victory over the defending champions Sundowns two months ago, and Pirates are next in the firing line.
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