The Carling Knockout competition in its various guises down the years has proven a mostly harrowing experience for Soweto giants Orlando Pirates having won only one of their nine finals appearances since it was first played in 1982.
That is a dismally poor record for a club so steeped in history and the third most successful in the country’s history, but for whatever reason they have found this particular piece of silverware frustratingly elusive.
That single victory came in 2011 when they beat BidVest Wits 3-1 in the final thanks to goals from Thulasizwe Mbuyane, Daine Klate and Isaac Chansa.
But for the rest there has been little cheer, despite their numerous final appearances.
They will travel to Richards Bay for a quarterfinal on Saturday, eager to improve recent results but on the back of three consecutive domestic knockout trophy wins – back-to-back MTN8 triumphs and the Nedbank Cup.
Coach Jose Riveiro has been at a loss to explain their downturn in league form, but is now unbeaten in 14 local cup matches and knows the formula for knockout success.
He feels the corner will be turned soon for his side.
"It’s going to happen. This team is going to find their momentum for sure,” he said. “We have a difficult feeling to accept but it’s also a test for us that after the last three results, we are not happy about.
“To be critical, to understand that we must and we can do things much better. But don’t doubt this group because I can tell you that they are going to make it."
TURNING THE CORNER
He will hope the corner is turned in this bogey competition for the team.
They lost to Durban Bush Bucks in the final in 1987, then to Mamelodi Sundowns in 1990. It took five years to return to the final and this time it was Wits who
Read on supersport.com