Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
With four matches remaining, could Orlando Pirates’ fixture against Stellenbosch FC be title-defining on Tuesday night? Former Cape Town Spurs midfielder Shane Poggenpoel weighs in on the big teams’ difficulty of getting points in the Western Cape.
Stellenbosch has been a tough team to beat for Pirates, who have one league win against The Maroons out of the last five fixtures, which was at the Orlando Amstel Arena early this season.
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The Buccaneers would not want to read the statistic that the last time the Soweto giants beat Stellenbosch away in the league was back in November 2021.
With little margin for error, it appears on paper that Stellies is arguably Pirates’ toughest fixture of their remaining matches, as they will be left with Magesi FC, Durban City, and Orbit College after the encounter against Gavin Hunt’s charges on Tuesday evening at Athlone Stadium.
“I don’t think he’s going to make it easy for them, coming up against an experienced guy, I don’t think Gavin Hunt is going to give anything away, I don’t think he’s going to give points away,” Poggenpoel told Soccer Laduma.
“If they (Pirates) really want it, they would have to change the statistics of playing here in Cape Town, and you know if they drop points, it’s literally over (in the title race).”
Poggenpoel also suggested that factors such as unpredictable weather conditions make it difficult for visiting teams, as he also revealed that it’s raining currently in the Mother City.
“I don’t know (why big teams struggle in Cape Town), but I think Cape Town teams play more directly, they don’t mess around, they play for the result, especially when they play at home, and the weather obviously. It’s raining here (in Cape Town), and they will make full use of the weather conditions,” the former SuperSport United midfielder said.
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“It does definitely play a role because the wind can be very unpredictable here in Cape Town, one half it would blow the one way, the second-half it would blow the same way.
“You thought you were playing against the wind and the wind is not taken off, it’s so unpredictable,” Poggenpoel added.
Second-placed Pirates are five points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns with a game in hand.
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