Orlando Pirates are now considered favourites to win the league, given their recent form, which saw them collect 13 points from five matches.
Having lost their opening two Betway Premiership games, the Buccaneers rallied back to win nine of their next 10 matches. Currently, they sit at the top of the Betway Premiership after 12 matches.
Last season, they lost the league to Mamelodi Sundowns despite a good start. Poor form in the second half of the season saw them collapse and hand the title to their rivals, whilst also slipping up in the CAF Champions League.
Many fans and pundits felt the lack of depth in the team cost Orlando Pirates their first league title in 13 years.
This season, the Buccaneers added close to 15 players with the likes of Oswin Appollis, Tshepang Moremi and Sipho Mbule standing out. So far, the team under new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou have won two domestic trophies and looks unbeatable with the squad they have.
What can stop Orlando Pirates from winning the league?
Ouaddou’s charges are good in defence and attack, making them a difficult team to beat. With only three defeats in 24 matches, the Buccaneers have bossed teams around and hardly conceded goals this season.
One of the reasons the team has remained solid at the back is because of Mbekezeli Mbokazi. The 20-year-old was pushed into the first team this year and immediately made an impact, becoming a crowd favourite.
Although he couldn’t help Orlando Pirates win the Champions League, he was seen as the future. This campaign, he formed a formidable partnership with Lebone Seema and the duo considered a handful of goals together.
Unfortunately for Bucs fans, Mbokazi was signed by MLS side Chicago Fire and will join the US team after the Africa Cup of Nations. “TLB” has been instrumental to Orlando Pirates’ success and in one or two league games he didn’t feature, the team seemed to be struggling.
Mbokazi’s absence could hurt the Buccaneers in the second half of the season if Seema and Nkosinathi Sibisi’s combination fails to work. The duo struggled against Golden Arrows last month and if they are put under pressure by teams, they might get exposed.