HAPPY PEOPLE: Ouaddou delivers best-of-the-best ever season for Pirates

Orlando Pirates’ title-in-waiting will be delivered with a top-of-the-class showing under Abdeslam Ouaddou as they end their 14-year wait for the league title.

So long has the wait been that kids born the year Pirates last won the league are now all teenagers and in high school.

All that will be forgotten with all waves of advantage swinging in the direction of the Soweto giants, who just need one win from the two games against Durban City and Orbit College FC.

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That anticipated league title will come with what will be the best season that they 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.

Bucs have already reached a landmark 65 points, surpassing the 64 points of the 1996/97 and 1999/2000 campaigns, which were both reached after 34 league games when the league still had 18 teams.

Another three points will take them to 68 points and the title as they enjoy a +8 better goal difference compared to Mamelodi Sundowns (on 68 points after 30 games).

Whichever way it is analysed, this will be the best season for Pirates, considering that another two trophies – MTN8 and Carling Knockout – have already been won.

Whether they end on 68 or 71 points, they will have averaged 2,26 points per match – a first for the club.

The men in Black and White have so far won 20, scored 56, and conceded a mere 12.

Those wins are the most recorded in a single season even when going back to 1985.

The most they have scored in a 16-team league was 52 during 2004/05 when they again ended second under Kosta Papic.

They have bettered that by four with two games to spare.

For goals conceded, prior to this season the best was 16 from the 2002/03 title-winning season.

They need to avoid conceding more than three in the last two to improve on that defensive record.

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Their current goals status has given them a +44 goal difference – another top achievement.

Pirates will play Durban City at a sold-out Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday (15:00).