OPINION – Chiefs’ loss to Pirates was all-too predictable

In the end Saturday’s Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates went as you might expect. 

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Pirates, pretty much a better team in all facets of the game, beat Chiefs, who scored first but didn’t have much else to offer. 

Pirates on top

Jose Riveiro’s side would have won by more if they had taken a healthier share of their opportunities, while Nasredine Nabi was left to pull from the playbook of excuses that he has felt compelled to turn to too many times this season. 

Nabi thought Chiefs should have had a penalty before Pirates equalised but it smacked of sour grapes from a man who has now seen his side lose 12 Betway Premiership games.

One more defeat and Chiefs will break their own unwanted PSL record that they set … last season. 

Amakhosi parted ways with Cavin Johnson at the end of that campaign and Nabi came in but has been unable to find a solution to Chiefs’ mediocre top flight form. 

‘Trust the process’ has been a mantra of the Tunisian and it does seem pointless for Chiefs to rip up the Nabi manual and start again with a new man at the helm when the season ends. 

After all, this is a malaise that will reflect a decade without a single piece of PSL silverware if Chiefs cannot beat Pirates in Saturday’s Nedbank Cup final. 

Nabi does at least have that cup run to cling to as a positive from his first season at the helm. Chiefs are also set to compete in next season’s Caf Confederation Cup, regardless of whether or not they win on Saturday. 

Chiefs nowhere near

Pirates will be heavy favourites to take down Amakhosi again in the Nedbank final but they said the same about Sundowns in the semifinals, and we all know what happened there. 

ALSO READ: Riviero happy with Pirates win, rues missed chances

Even if Chiefs win on Saturday, however, the club are still miles off when it comes to challenging for the title. Similarly, even if Pirates lose on Saturday, it would be too simplistic to brand their season a failure. 

Riveiro has built a hugely impressive side, whether or not he ends up going out with a bang or a whimper.