Former Orlando Pirates head coach Owen Da Gama has weighed in on the club finishing the year with back-to-back losses in the DStv Premiership.
The Buccaneers have lost both their last two matches, much to the disappointment of the club's faithful, with some even calling for the sacking of the current head coach Jose Riveiro accusing him of having run out of ideas.
The Soweto blew a two-goal lead in the defeat to Stellenbosch FC last weekend, with Da Gama claiming the team put a lot more emphasis on cup matches.
READ | 'I don't really know what happened' - Riveiro on Bucs' collapse
"It is very difficult to have insight into exactly where it's going wrong," Da Gama tells KickOff.
"But I've been watching their games and you know cup games are not the same as the league games.
"Not to criticise or anything, I just believe there is a lot of emphasis on the cup games and that is something that takes a lot from your league games.
"It is very, very difficult to win cups and the league at the same time. Unless you have huge depth.
"The cup games took a lot out of the Pirates players, I can tell you that.
"That's my experience as a coach. That's what I believe might be the reason they are dropping points.
"They've got a good coach, and they've got a very good team. But the cup games took a lot out of their players, and that affected the players.
"It's like going to play in Africa, if you don't do it accordingly you will suffer the same fate as Marumo Gallants. They went to the CAF Confederations Cup semi-final and they got relegated. That took a lot out of their players I can tell you that.
"I remember after winning the Telkom Knockout with Silver Stars, for five games after that we couldn't win a league game.."It's like the league it's an anti-climax you know, so I think Jose Riveiro will get it right you know.
"Some players can be able to go through a lot of games and some are not, and there is also a case of injuries and loss of form.
"He is a very good coach, and I believe he will get it right. It's a process, there was a time when Sundowns were winning the league but couldn't win trophies."