All-clear signal raised again for Pirates in title decider

Orlando Pirates’ title decider on Saturday will come with the benefits of having all their players available for selection for the 11 consecutive match.

Pirates travel to a sold-out Mbombela Stadium, where Orbit College FC will be the hosts on Saturday afternoon (15:00).

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They will be crowned league champions if they win by any margin, ending 14 years of waiting, making Orbit’s relegation issues a secondary thought.

The Soweto giants last ruled domestic football in the 2011/12 season, which had Augusto Palacios in charge for the last 12 league games after taking over from Julio Leal.

Come Saturday, Abdeslam Ouaddou could deliver the title in his first season if the team wins, doing so with all players not injured.

Of interest is that the last player to miss out due to suspension at the side was Kamogelo Sebelebele.

This was ahead of the visit to Polokwane on March 4.

Since then, they have played 10 consecutive league games without any player being unavailable due to suspension.

So, on Saturday, Pirates will have Sipho Chaine, Sebelebele, Lebone Seema, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Deon Hotto, Patrick Maswanganyi, Thalente Mbatha, Relebohile Mofokeng, Tshepang Moremi, Oswin Appollis, Yanela Mbuthuma, and Evidence Makgopa all available for the title decider.

That anticipated league title will come with what will be the best season that the men in Black and White have ever had, not just in the PSL era years (from August 1996) but all the way back to 1985 when the NSL was launched.

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They have already reached 66 points, surpassing the 64 points of the 1996/97 season and the 1999/2000 campaign, which were both reached after 34 league games when the league still had 18 teams.

Another three points will take them to 69 points and the title.

The Buccaneers have already won two trophies – the MTN8 and Carling Knockout.