Exclusive: Edward Motale tips Pirates to finally end Mamelodi Sundowns' PSL dominance

ORLANDO Pirates legend Edward Motale is confident that the Soweto giants have done enough in the current transfer window to not only mount a serious challenge against Mamelodi Sundowns, but to bring an end to the Pretoria-based side’s dominant reign at the top of South African football.

The Buccaneers have not lifted the league title since the 2011/12 season, but after pushing closer to the top during the previous campaign than they have in recent years – even though they ultimately finished 13 points behind champions Sundowns – there’s a renewed sense of optimism in Orlando.

A large part of that comes from their activity in the market, with several new signings boosting hopes that they can go all the way this time.

Pirates will also head into the new campaign under new leadership following the departure of head coach Jose Riveiro to Egyptian giants Al Ahly at the end of last season. 

Moroccan tactician Abdeslam Ouaddou has already taken over, and he has inherited a team that reached the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League and also played in the Nedbank Cup final.

Despite missing out on silverware in the final stretch – with only the MTN8 trophy to show for their efforts – the team showed significant progress, and expectations are once again high for the upcoming season.

Motale, a former Bucs defender who played a key role in the club’s historic 1995 CAF Champions League-winning side, believes that Pirates have what it takes to not only compete with Sundowns but to finally surpass them.

“The club knows where they went wrong last season,” Motale told Independent Newspapers.

“Before the coach left, he even admitted that they were too confident in certain matches and dropped points against so-called smaller teams – that’s where they lost the title.

“The fact that they’ve already acknowledged what cost them shows a team that’s learning and growing. That gives me the belief that this season they won’t just be challengers – they will go all the way and win the league.”

The Sea Robbers recently concluded a pre-season tour in Spain, which gave new coach Ouaddou a valuable opportunity to assess his squad in competitive conditions. 

The trip also allowed him to experiment with combinations and get a clearer picture of the team’s depth heading into what could be a demanding campaign.

Motale praised the value of the tour, saying it gave many players a chance to prove themselves while also helping the coaching staff make informed decisions ahead of their MTN8 title defence.

“I saw the last two matches of the tour,” Motale continued.

“You can’t judge too much from only a few games, but it was important for every player to get game time.

“It was also an opportunity for the coach to see who fits where, to try out combinations. 

“I don’t think he’ll struggle with a large squad. In fact, I suspect that even in those four matches, he has already figured out a few preferred combinations and maybe even his best starting eleven.

“He played at the highest level, and when someone has that kind of experience, it doesn’t take long to spot your top players. He’ll know who to go with.”

The Buccaneers will kick off the defence of their MTN8 title against Polokwane City on August 2 at the Orlando Stadium, with the league season set to begin soon after.