Orlando Pirates’ 2-0 away win at Durban City on Saturday opened up a three-point lead at the top of the Betway Premiership table and has ignited genuine hopes of a title run this season.
The Buccaneers have finished runners-up to Mamelodi Sundowns – by some distance – in the last three years but now lead The Brazilians as we head towards the long break for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Pirates have no more league fixtures before January 24 and a trip to Sekhukhune United, before a crunch clash with Sundowns a week later. They will play this coming weekend in the final of the Carling Knockout against Marumo Gallants.
Sundowns will likely regain top spot in the league when they go to Siwelele on Wednesday, albeit having played a game more, and unlike Pirates will have the sizeable distraction of the CAF Champions League in the second half of the campaign.
Match statistics from Orlando Pirates’ visit to Durban CityFlashscore
It has been a record-breaking campaign to date for Pirates, who have taken 28 out of the last 30 points available, their best-ever run in the Premier Soccer League era.
Given they lost their first two league games, it might have been an even better start.
Their elevation to the top of the league on Saturday came exactly one year to the day since they last reached the summit on November 29, 2024, when their fast start saw them win seven of their first eight games.
As much as they have quality attackers, this season has been built on a stout defence, with only five goals conceded in 12 games, the best record in the league. That includes eight clean sheets.
Only Sekhukhune United, Gallants (twice), Sundowns and Lamontville Golden Arrows have breached their backline.
Their midweek win over Chippa United means they have won nine home games in a row across all competitions for the first time in their PSL history, with the all-time record since 1996/97 standing at 10 games.
Their next home fixture? The one against Sundowns in late January.
The danger for them this season is that they lose momentum in the break for the AFCON in Morocco, where several of their players will feature for Bafana Bafana and other nations.
It will be like starting the season again when they return, with no pre-season to bring the players up to speed.
There are 56 days between their last league game and their next one, almost two months, and that is a lot of time to lose match sharpness and cohesion in the group.
