Former Orlando Pirates head coach Roger de Sa has shared his thoughts on
the Buccaneers’ potential to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns for the league
title this season. For the first time in over two decades, Pirates entered
the AFCON break leading the Betway Premiership, sparking hopes among
supporters of a historic treble—having already secured the MTN8 and Carling
Knockout trophies.
When asked if the Soweto giants are capable of winning all available
silverware this season, De Sa acknowledged the growing belief. “I think
that’s every Pirates fan’s dream to win everything on offer,” he told the
Siya crew. “For sure, Pirates have closed the gap on Sundowns. That has
certainly happened. They’ve definitely closed that gap that used to be
between Sundowns and the rest of the clubs in South Africa, and it’s good
for the game.”
While praising Pirates’ progress, De Sa also issued a cautious reminder:
“You’ve got to be wary of Sundowns still. Sundowns still has a fantastic
squad. But the fact that Pirates have put pressure on Sundowns is good for
the game.”
Highlighting what has impressed him most about the current Pirates side, De
Sa pointed not to individual stars but to the team’s collective strength.
“The depth of their squad has really been impressive. They are boasting nice
young players, and they keep on performing,” said the 61-year-old former
Egypt assistant coach. “There are no real superstars—that, for me, has been
the most impressive part. It’s been a well-organized, well-structured team.
They keep believing, they keep playing attacking football, and they are
looking to score goals all the time.”
He added, “Now they have developed a belief in winning, which is very
important. I think it has come through everybody there, and it’s nice to
see.”
