The slow poison that killed Orlando Pirates' title charge
Orlando Pirates suffered a cruel blow in February, one from which they never recovered. Was this the nail in their coffin?
When Thabiso Sesane was cut down with a serious injury in February, nobody knew how profound an effect that event would have on Pirates' title charge. On paper, central defence is arguably the team's deepest resource with Tapelo Xoki, Olisa Ndah and Nkosinathi Sibisi as options. However, Ndah has battled injuries and both Xoki and Sibisi have suffered dips in form. The late-season emergence of an outstandingly gifted teenager, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, has been a huge boost, but none of the club's existing centre-halves have Sesane's unique skill set. The 25-year-old was quietly and effectively becoming the marshal of Pirates' back four. It's hoped that he'll be fit in time for the early stages of the 2025-2026 campaign. Thabiso Sesane at the Orlando Stadium. Image: @orlandopiratesfc/X
Pirates conceded 20 goals in 28 league encounters this season. Compare that to the 18 they conceded in 2023-2024, and that was in 30 matches. It's safe to say their defence has deteriorated in that regard, and Sesane's absence was a huge contributing factor.
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