Ben Motshwari (R) says Orlando Pirates will look to redeem themselves when they host Marumo Gallants in a DStv Premiership clash at the Orlando Stadium on Monday. Picture: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Just three days after their embarrassing loss to Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates will be looking for redemption when they host Marumo Gallants at the Orlando Stadium on Monday.
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The 4-1 drubbing suffered in the hands of the Pretoria side at Loftus Versfeld last Friday, has really unsettled the Buccaneers, posing a lot of questions around the team’s depth. And adding to their misery, one of their key players in their last couple of games, Olisa Ndah, is doubtful for the tie against Bahlabane Ba Ntwa after getting injured in their previous fixture.
Pirates conceded what midfielder Ben Motshwari described as “silly” goals cost by bad defending from the Buccaneers, which led to Sundowns scoring four goals in the second half.
“It was a difficult result for us, I think we played well in the first half, even though they were coming on a lot on the sides, but we managed them. We conceded silly goals in the second half, especially on set-pieces. I mean leaving a man on the far pole (during a set-piece), it was really a stupid mistake to do in the second half. We only have ourselves to blame, especially in the second half,” said Motshwari.
“For us now we have to forget about that game (Downs game). We can only take the positives from the first half going into our next game on Monday. We have to redeem ourselves, we just have to forget about the Sundowns game and move on to the next match.”
The loss for the Buccaneers was their third of the season, having also recorded nine draws and five wins in their last 17 matches. Bucs are in third place on the league standings with 24 points. The clash against Gallants will be vital for the Soweto giants to pick themselves up, but it certainly won’t be easy with the sides having played to a goalless draw in their last meeting.
Gallants, meanwhile, will also be looking to get back to winning ways after losing 1-0 to AmaZulu Fc in their last game. The Limpopo based outfit are in 11th place on the log with 18 points after 16 games.