Orlando Pirates’ third season will end with yet another distant runner-up finish in the league as they welcome Magesi FC.
Wednesday’s match at Orlando Stadium will be the 52nd that Pirates play this season, which started as far back as August 3 when they laboured to a 3-1 extra-time win over SuperSport United in the MTN8 quarterfinals.
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Two weeks later, they traveled to Mauritius, where they played a goalless draw in the first leg, first round of the CAF Champions League against Disciples from Madagascar.
Then came an easy win in the second leg, before they got past Cape Town City in the semi-finals of the MTN8, which they then won for the third year in a row in October.
That would become the side’s only piece of silverware this season.
In-between going through to the group stage of the Champions League after getting past Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana, they got their campaign in the Betway Premiership underway with a win against Chippa United.
The Buccaneers went on to win their first seven league games of the season, raising hopes of a league challenge.
Just as expected, they came stuck in the Carling Knockout, then reached the 10 league games mark with an impressive 27 points out of a possible 30.
This included the famous 8-1 massacre of Marumo Gallants.
In the Champions League group stage, they made a statement with an away win at CR Belouizdad, before topping the group ahead of Al Ahly with four wins and two draws.
Then came the start of the Nedbank Cup in the New Year, putting the Soweto giants in contention for three trophies in the New Year.
At the halfway stage of the league campaign, they had won 12 and lost three as they kept pace with Sundowns.
The Champions League brought quarterfinal joy as they got past MC Alger – who made it ugly.
Just five weeks ago, the league chase was still on, just like the Nedbank Cup and Champions League.
Unfortunately, Bucs have themselves to blame for how they lost to Pyramids FC in Cairo as they made an exit from the Champions League.
The Nedbank Cup final defeat to Kaizer Chiefs was then followed four days later by confirmation that The Brazilians had won their eighth league title in a row.
This meant the last four league games would be of no significance, which prompted Jose Riveiro to then leave prior to the expiry of his contract.
The Spaniard had already indicated that he would not be extending his contract at the club.
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Besides winning the MTN8, reaching the Champions League semi-finals and Riveiro leaving, the highlight for Pirates has been the introduction of DStv Diski Challenge players into the first team.
Cemran Dansin, Siyabonga Dladla, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Mohau Nkota, Siyabonga Ndlozi, Yanga Madiba, and Simphiwe Selepe all got a chance to make their debuts this season.
