The destiny of the DStv Premiership could have already been decided , ut Orlando Pirates are giving The Ghost a home stretch that will keep them on their toes in the chase for a CAF Champions League place.
Pirates have kept pace with Mamelodi Sundowns this year by gathering just a point less than the champions to at least be one of the two Soweto giants aiming for continental football after Kaizer Chiefs disappointed again.
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From 11 league games this year, The Bucs have won seven, including consecutive victories in the last five, which has pumped up the energy in the stands at Orlando Stadium.
The other four have been three draws and one defeat, which has meant 24 points from a maximum of 33 after having picked up 25 out of 48 points before the New Year.
As champions, Mamelodi Sundowns have been one point ahead with seven wins and four draws, totalling 25 points since the turn of the New Year after getting 38 out of 42 points on board before January 1.
Stellenbosch FC have recorded six wins and just as many draws to reach 24 points this year but have played one more league game this year.
On the contrary, Chiefs have gathered only 10 out of a possible 33 to anchor the top half of the standings.
At this stage of the season last term, Pirates won six in a row before also going on to avoid defeat in the last three, gathering 23 from the last 27 points that they had to play for.
This helped them finish second – 16 points behind Sundowns.
"We are going to try to get our second objective which is the highest position that we can achieve," says Jose Riveiro, the Pirates coach.
"The target is to get more points than last season.
"Last season, we got 54 and we can get 58 this season, so the objective is to get more than we did one year ago.
"Hopefully, we manage to get that amount of points and get the second position, which depends on the results of Stellenbosch.
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"Our part is to make sure that we collect that amount and get to 58," says Riveiro.
Pirates’ remaining league games are against Richards Bay FC at home on Saturday, then TS Galaxy, before they round off the season against SuperSport United on May 25.
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