Orlando Pirates secured yet another Soweto Derby win following their 2-1 victory against bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday, making it five straight wins over Amakhosi.
Chiefs started well when Glody Lilepo slotted home after just two minutes but Evidence Makgopa leveled 22 minutes later before Relebohile Mofokeng won it in the 69th minute and by the time Bradley Cross was getting sent off in stoppable time, Jose Riveiro’s team had already sealed three points.
It sees Riveiro make it five straight wins and joins Stuart Baxter as the coaches with the most Soweto Derby victories but what did we learn from the match?
Questions marks over Nabi
Pirates’ victory raised doubts over coach Nasreddine Nabi’s suitability for the Kaizer Chiefs job as it was the seven straight league match in which his team had failed to win.
While this was a big opponent, Chiefs had failed to beat Cape Town City, Richards Bay, Golden Arrows, TS Galaxy, Chippa United and Marumo Gallants and even hopes of summoning enough for the derby were quickly extinguished.
It leaves fans wondering if the veteran Tunisian is truly the Messiah they were promised as his squad appear unable to beat both big and small teams.
Even if he is working on a long-term project, failing to win even one of seven league games raises more questions over his suitability for the role as some positive results would be a sign that there is something good along the way.
Pirates’ defensive problems exposed
Meanwhile, the game also exposed some problems that Pirates have in defence as the centre-back pairing of Mbekelezi Mbokazi and Tapelo Xoki struggled with the pace of the Chiefs attackers.
Xoki’s lack of pace was there to see, explaining why Riveiro prefers to play him in a back three, with the suspended Nkosinathi Sibisi badly missed.
Chiefs therefore gave other teams, especially Golden Arrows who they play on Tuesday, an idea how to get behind the Pirates defence and they can utilise the weakness and get some points on the board.
Rele should always play on the wing
Relebohile Mofokeng has proved to be the man for the big occasions for Pirates and he did it again on Saturday by scoring the winner.
However, what was evident is that the 20-year-old struggles in the No.10 role where he started before being shifted out wide in the second half.
While he has an eye for a good pass, Rele is at his best on the left wing, cutting in on his stronger right foot, and that was on full display when he was shifted wide, leading to the goal and also some chances that he created for his team-mates.
Have Sirino’s powers waned?
Meanwhile, Gaston Sirino is supposed to be Chiefs’ answer to Pirates’ Mofokeng but he has struggled to prove that he’s still got it.
The Uruguayan-born attacker started the season well but hit a plateau and has struggled with just two assists in his last 12 PSL games, having managed three and a goal in his first five matches.
In the derby, Sirino did not produce and was taken off after labouring for 68 minutes. Chiefs might be needed to go in the market for another playmaker again if Nabi wants his team to create more chances.
Chiefs still need defenders & strikers
It is interesting that with Ashley Du Preez, Tashreeq Morris and Ranga Chivaviro, Chiefs still need a striker but that is the situation.
Chiefs’ forwards are still not scoring, something that has contributed to their woeful season, and was there in the Soweto Derby when Lilepo, a winger, started upfront while Du Preez and Morris were on the bench.
In defence, it is not good either as Pirates brutally exposed the lack of pace and poor decision-making of Zitha Kwinika and Edmilson Dove.
With Rushwin Dortley and Miguel Inacio injured, those available have not done anything to show they deserve a place in the team next season and Nabi must be looking at how to improve at the back as even the injured duo were not covering themselves in glory when they were available.
