SEDIBENG.- There is something special about Orlando Pirates with regard to their top-notch recruiting policy, season after season.
Every season Pirates either promotes or signs exciting players but at the end of the season finishes second or third in the DSTV Premiership despite all their exciting and talented players. For years now Pirates has been recruiting exciting talent, especially from the Vaal. This is since the days of Joseph “China” Masondo, Motlatsi “Boom Shaka” Moopeloa, Steve Lekoelea, and lately Relebogile Mofokeng who is on everyone’s lips.
TOUCHLINE has been following how Pirates has been signing or promoting exciting players for years now. Those with long memories will recall the exciting Orlando Pirates teams of Lebohohang “Cheesboy” Mokoena, Joseph “Duku-Duku” Makhanya, Lesley Manyathela, Gift Leremi, and Excellent Walaza to mention but a few. This was the most exciting Orlando Pirates team to come to my mind. Although they didn’t win so much in terms of trophies they had exceptional talent, to say the least.
Pirates have started this season like a well-oiled machine and look set to challenge the dominance of Mamelodi Sundowns in the DSTV Premiership. If their performance against Royal AM and Sekhukhune United is anything to go by, TOUCHLINE has no doubt that Pirates is going to give Sundowns a run for their money. They started the season like a house on fire and they look set to challenge the league title even though they lost their opening game of the season and played to a goalless draw in their midweek fixture.
On the other hand, Mamelodi Sundowns have won all their three games of the season and they are at the summit of the DSTV Premiership log standing. Last season Pirates seemed to be the only team that gave Sundowns some trouble when they were crowned both the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup Champions.
However, it will be very interesting to see if they can repeat the same feat this season, and defend both trophies as they are in the semi-finals of the MTN8!
Whoever is responsible to recruit players for Orlando Pirates must be complimented for the past years for bringing in exciting talent to the club. Not long ago, TOUCHLINE had an interesting conversation with one of the most educated coaches, Kenneth “Conti” Kubheka regarding the club’s recruiting policy.
We touched base on how the club, season after season, would bring in exciting talent, skillful, quick, and fast-flowing football players. However, the only thing that we were not sure about was, if this is part of the club’s recruitment policy to sign exciting talent to play this fast-flowing brand of football.
I can’t wait for the season to unfold to see how far Orlando Pirates can go…
