TALKING POINTS | Kaizer Chiefs’ scoring woes continue as Orlando Pirates soar and Mamelodi Sundowns embrace portuguese talent

The season has seen significant fluctuations in South African football, particularly for the Soweto giants, who have found themselves on opposite ends of the spectrum.

Kaizer Chiefs, one of the most storied franchises in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), face a concerning trend that has left fans anxious: a struggle to score goals. In stark contrast, Orlando Pirates supporters have much to celebrate, having recently achieved a resounding victory that solidifies their position as serious title contenders.

Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns remain unfazed by their rivals’ performances, continuously enhancing their squad with fresh talent. Their latest focus is on scouting Portuguese players to strengthen their attacking options, a significant talking point this weekend.

AmaKhosi’s horrific scoring drought

Kaizer Chiefs’ ongoing struggles in front of goal were once again evident on Saturday against Kabuscorp. In their last ten fixtures, they have scored only two goals, highlighting significant issues with their attacking efficiency. Despite creating numerous scoring chances, missed opportunities heavily impacted their performance.

Congolese winger Glody Lilepo scored the crucial goal for Chiefs, leading to a penalty shoot-out. The only time this season that Chiefs managed to score twice in a match was during a 2-0 victory against Stellenbosch FC at the beginning of the campaign.

Chiefs’ flawless five-out-of-five from the spot

With a flawless five-out-of-five performance from the penalty spot, Chiefs were outstanding during the deciding shoot-out. Gaston Sirino, Reeve Frosler, Flavio da Silva, Thabo Cele, and Aden McCarthy each converted with confidence and precision.

Goalkeeper Brandon Petersen emerged as the hero, diving low to his left to deny Kabuscorp’s second penalty from Lucas Moises. His pivotal save showcased his reflexes and instilled fresh confidence in his teammates.

‘Overrated’ jibe fires up Pirates’ coach

While Orlando Pirates enjoyed a well-deserved 7-0 aggregate victory, Lioli FC coach Bongani Maseko became embroiled in a media storm. Prior to the second leg, reports suggested he had labelled Pirates “overrated”. Maseko clarified: “In my previous interview, I said that Pirates were not good enough, not that they were overrated. There is a difference.”

In Saturday’s 4-0 win, coach Ouaddou’s celebration of every goal, seemingly aimed at Lioli’s technical area, served as a rebuttal to Maseko’s earlier claims.

Moremi cocked his ears for the coach’s call

Before the match, Pirates coach Ouaddou rallied his players: “We must show them who we are, a big team, score, and beat them.”

Tshepang Moremi heeded that advice, scoring two goals to demonstrate Pirates’ dominance. The pacey striker, who joined from AmaZulu at the start of the season, now has four goals in nine matches across all competitions and has strong claims for a Bafana Bafana call-up.

Sundowns charmed by Portuguese potential

Mamelodi Sundowns have deepened their focus on Portuguese talent by signing Nuno Santos from Vitória Guimarães. Santos joins fellow Portuguese player Miguel Reisinho, and both work under a predominantly Portuguese coaching staff.

Head coach Miguel Cardoso, assistant Fabio Fernandes, video analyst Pedro Azevedo, and match strategist João Araujo complete the group. As Sundowns rely more on Portuguese expertise, fans are eager to see whether this approach will translate into success on the field.