Pirates searching for home comforts in Orlando
Orlando Pirates have traditionally made their Orlando Stadium a fortress and a graveyard for many a visiting teams, but that luster of invincibility has slipped a little in recent times.
Friday’s 1-1 draw with Polokwane City, a game in which they led in the first half through Patrick Maswanganyi’s well-constructed goal, means it is now just two wins in their last six home DStv Premiership matches for The Buccaneers.
There are three draws and a defeat in there as well, with the loss coming against Mamelodi Sundowns in their home league fixture prior to the Polokwane one, meaning Pirates fans have not watched their side win at home in the league since August.
There has been much to celebrate in the reign of Spanish coach Jose Riveiro at Pirates – back-to-back MTN8 titles, the Nedbank Cup and second place in the league last season.
But perhaps the one negative has been some iffy home form and unexpected losses on their own patch.
Pirates have played 19 league games at the Orlando Stadium under Riveiro and won 10 of those, to go with five draws and four defeats. That 53 per cent win ratio is not the worst, but they have been more dominant in Soweto in the past.
The defeats have come against, most shockingly, Chippa United, bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns (twice). All of the losses have been by 1-0 margins.
It should also be stated that the game against the AmaKhosi was actually played at FNB Stadium, but was still a home fixture for The Buccaneers.
Perhaps most irritating for Riveiro will be the draws, which have come in games they would really expect to win.
They were held by Richards Bay, AmaZulu, Royal AM, Sekhukhune United and Polokwane City. Those are fixtures in which The Ghost would expect three
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