It was a match in which the Buccaneers really struggled in front of goal and they failed to create any decent goal scoring chances until the 73rd minute, when Thulasizwe Mbuyane found the equaliser. Five minutes later and Pirates took the lead through Siyabonga Sangweni, which eventually proved to be the winner, but many a soccer pundit felt the Buccaneers got off to a slow start and were lucky to get away with the three points. One man who does not share that view is Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi, who puts his team’s success down to hard work on and off the pitch. "We are not lucky; it is because of hard work and our fighting spirit, which was unbelievable," he says. "It was not a slow start. We gave them an early goal and after that we were chasing the game to find the equaliser. But we worked hard and got the equaliser, after that we continued pushing and got the winner."
_quote When asked if pressure was the reason they struggled to find the back of the net, Lekgwathi is again defiant: "There is always pressure to play in a big team like Pirates, but I am always saying to my teammates to absorb the pressure. Whenever we play we have to work hard and win the game. "We will continue where we left off against Celtic when we play Arrows, displaying our fighting spirit and make sure that at the end of the day we win the game and lift the title," said the Buccaneers man after which he added it would be nice to go into the record books by winning the league title for the second season in a row. "It is going to be nice to be in the history books of Orlando Pirates and in the history books of the PSL. I pray and wish that we win the trophy first." Looking ahead to next season and asked when he would be hanging up his boots, Lekgwathi said there is still life in his 35-year-old legs yet. "My legs will tell me when it is time to quit, but I will just continue to work hard, especially while I am getting support from my teammates and coach. I just have to make sure that I work hard and live a clean life."
Your comments on this story...
1. They have world class players.
2. They work harder than the rest.
3. They persever & are mentally strong.
4. etc
The current Pirates team team totally dominated the SAn soccer landscape like no other team before. In 2 seasons, it has come back to win or draw games when no one gave them a chance. This season alone, 15 time (SS stats), last season the same number can be estimated. It has won 5 cup & gunning for the 6th. Six finals in 2 seasons, etc. Is that little luck Mr. Editor?
If it is ither teams its good work, brilliance & all. When will Pirates get what is due to them? RESPECT.
u 4got 2 say u scored a crucial goal against moria tea drinkers and against celtic but de chimpanzee assistant tried 2 stand bt2 pirates n victory but sanity prevailed
eish i 4got lucky cant praize himself since dis ligue is being won by de fans...YES, PIRATES WILL BEAT U FRM DE STANDS
DEFENDING DE CUPS IS OUR MOTTO...WE ONLY HAVE 2 WIN NEDBANK
However I am concerned with the way we are not winning with big score. It seems the team is content with one or two goals. This season alone we only managed to score 3 or more goals again Chiefs and Platinum Stars.
In the games against Bloem Celtic the team fought very hard for three points. We pushed very hard and finally equalised. we again pushed and scored the second goal. After the second goal, we laid back again and left Benni isolated upfront. This moght come back and bite us one day, specifically this coming weekened against Arrows
FACT IS PIRATES ARE RUNNING THIS PSL...matter of fact its becoming more like below our class.
Or kanjani bucaneers?
Luck is when opportunity meets preparations -
Henry Ford said "they more i work hard, the more luck i get"
The editor is right, Pirates has Luck and other teams dont have.
ABT: at this stage, what matters is 3 points.
Its funny that people concluded that Swallows will work all over Maritzburg, no one want to consider a draw or a lose for Swallows.
Pirates will win against Arrows, we need no favors.
lenyora: i think u are in a wrong space or u are mentally ill.
Defiantly Yellow, until Colonel explains why his C.K. "Dubula Projects" is registered in '81 whilst Bucs is 75 years old! LOL.
Bhakabhaka, bucs forever, happy people always, ezikamagebhula, ezagebhula umhlaba kamaspalati. Bhakajuju always. the sea robbers.
usisikhokho DR. Irvin, Colonel, Iron Duke KHOZA, you do not lie, you are really back to focus on Pirates.
Eish, i wish this weekend we can be in control for the entire match for a change and win it comfortable early in the first half. We must fire in all cylinders and never concead. that early goal by celtic unsettled us thats why we struggled, rushing everything.