Orlando Pirates will be hoping they are not haunted by a trophy celebration hangover for a third successive season after a shock 3-2 defeat to Magesi in the Carling Knockout.
Pirates were unrecognizable in the first stanza against Dikwena, especially defensively, after going to the half-time break trailing 3-0.
It took strikes by Kabelo Dlamini and Evidence Makgopa in the last four minutes to avoid an embarrassing scoreline.
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Although the Soweto giants had a goal correctly disallowed for offside in stoppage time, against a more formidable opposition, they could have endured one of their worst defeats.
In hindsight, the side have actually struggled with trophy celebration hangovers, particularly with the MTN8 early in the season, as the loss against Clinton Larsen's charges came after they had just beaten Stellenbosch FC 3-1 to lift the Top Eight trophy.
After edging AmaZulu FC 1-0 in the MTN8 final, in Jose Riveiro's first title in 2022, the hangover struck in the Premiership, as immediately thereafter, they went on to lose back-to-back matches against Mamelodi Sundowns and Cape Town City.
A year later, after the Spaniard won his second consecutive MTN8 title, Pirates were followed by a cup hangover in the league, after they drew two straight games against AmaZulu FV and Polokwane City, suffered defeat against Cape Town Spurs and were knocked out of the Carling Knockout by Richards Bay FC, in a sequence of four winless games before they redeemed themselves against Sekhukhune United.
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All of these setbacks straight after winning the MTN8, especially in the league, affected the Buccaneers' chances in the league title race early on, in the last two seasons.
The head coach will not have to look far when doing the diagnosis of his team after a collapse against Magesi and will be hoping a perfect start in the Betway Premiership, of three wins in a row, will be enough inspiration for his troops to awaken from the trophy celebration slumber.
Pirates will be up against one of their traditional tough customers SuperSport United on Tuesday evening.