Orlando Pirates suffer disappointing defeat to Sekhukhune United in the Betway Premiership opener
Image: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers
ORLANDO PIRATES (0)
SEKHUKHUNE UNITED (1)
Mkhize 48'
Orlando - Orlando Pirates' Betway Premiership got off to an unpleasant note as they lost 1-0 to Sekhukhune United at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night.
This was not the start Pirates' new coach Abdeslam Ouaddu had in mind as he knows that one of the club's mandates is to challenge for the title.
Ouaddou would have collected three points that would have seen them come out of the blocks, especially after champions Mamelodi Sundowns dropped two points earlier.
Sure, it was the first game of the season, but Ouaddu has already dented his reputation, after the team hit a record of successive wins in their first seven league games last season.
Ouaddou's counterpart Eric Tinkler will be pleased by the result as they look to do better than their fourth-place finish of last season.
Having Ouaddou come into this game at the back of the win in the MTN8 quarter-final, he was expected to start his league campaign on a high.
But it wasn't to be. Sekhukhune ensured that they dashed those hopes as Siphesihle Mkhize netted immediately after the break to give his team all three points.
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Ouaddou will look at this game and feel that they were their own worst enemy as they controlled the tempo from start to finish.
The Moroccan didn't change much from the team that beat City here a week ago, with the only difference being the inclusion of Tshepo Mashiloane for Bandile Shandu.
Mashiloane blew hot and cold on debut, resulting in a stressful moment for Ouddou who was already restless on the touchline, pacing up and down.
The start of the game wasn't fluid as there were stops and gos which allowed Ouaddou to call his players and issue out instructions.
Pirates' early dominance nearly gifted them the perfect start as Deon Hotto sent in a cross which Daniel Cardoso nearly slotted into his own net, only to be saved by the crossbar.
Ouaddou knew the importance of winning as such when Sipho Mbule lived up to his MasterChef moniker, dishing up scintillating, that must have given him hope.
But for all his enterprising football which prompted loud chants from the Ghost, Mbule's best effort was when he forced out a brilliant save from Renaldo Learner with a piledriver.
Babina Noko were not dead and buried, though. They also had some good moments as Pirates' former players Thabang Monare and Linda Mntambo combined at times.
Their combination didn't yield dividends in the first half as balls didn't reach Bradley Grobler who was watched like a hawk by Mbekezeli Mbokazi.
Mbokazi and Co were only able to keep Sekhukhune at bay in the first half as Mkhize pounced early into the second half following a scramble inside Pirates' box.
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