Orlando Pirates legend Edward “Magents” Motale has issued a clear
directive to the current Buccaneers squad: sharpen your focus against the
league’s so-called smaller teams or risk letting the Premiership title slip
away.
Speaking at the unveiling of the Orlando Amstel Arena, Motale acknowledged
the tight title race, with Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns locked in a fierce
battle at the summit. However, he stressed that derby glory alone will not
be enough to secure the championship.
“The most important thing is that they need to beat the so-called smaller
teams and get maximum points from those, the ones that are at the bottom,”
Motale emphasized. “You cannot rely on beating Chiefs, Sundowns, and think
you’re going to win the league. By winning the league, you need to beat the
smaller ones, because that’s where you get more injections of points.”
The legend had initially predicted a double of CAF Champions League and
domestic league success for his former club this season. While continental
hopes have ended, his belief in their title charge remains, contingent on
ruthless consistency.
“Unfortunately, we’ve slipped out of the Champions League, but we’ve still
got the bigger cake, which is the league,” Motale stated. “And you can see
on top there, it’s us and Sundowns neck and neck.”
Motale’s message underscores the perennial truth of title races:
championships are often won not in the blockbuster fixtures, but through
unwavering focus and maximum points harvested from every other opponent on
the calendar.
