Andries Sebola Weighs In on PSL Title Race as Pirates Chase Sundowns
Former Orlando Pirates striker Andries Sebola remains optimistic that the Premier Soccer League (PSL) title contest is far from decided, despite Mamelodi Sundowns holding a five‑point advantage and having played one extra match.
Speaking ahead of Pirates’ Tuesday night clash with Stellenbosch at Athlone Stadium, Sebola highlighted the upcoming encounter between Sundowns and third‑placed Kaizer Chiefs as a potential turning point.
“It’s not over yet. Sundowns won’t have an easy time against Chiefs. I expect Chiefs to cause problems for Sundowns. So I think Pirates are still in the race,” Sebola said.
He added that Chiefs, smarting from a 2‑0 away loss to Siwelele, are likely to rebound strongly, echoing their response after a defeat to Pirates earlier in the season.
Key Points from Sebola’s Analysis
- Sundowns lead the log with 58 points from 24 games; Pirates sit on 53 points from 23 matches (PSL official log, 15 March 2025).
- The five‑point gap narrows to two if Pirates win their game in hand against Stellenbosch.
- Sebola believes Pirates’ reliance on a trio — Relebohile Mofokeng, Oswin Appollis and Tshepang Moremi — makes them vulnerable when those players are marked out of the game.
- He recommends coach Abdeslam Ouaddou start both Yanela Mbuthuma and Evidence Makgopa up front and push Appollis closer to Mofokeng in midfield.
- Sebola noted that Sundowns possess “quality all round,” whereas Pirates’ attacking output drops sharply when the three key men are neutralised.
Upcoming Fixtures and What They Mean for the Title Chase
The mid‑week schedule offers two decisive matches that could reshape the title picture:
- Tuesday, 7:30 pm – Stellenbosch vs. Orlando Pirates (Athlone Stadium)
- Wednesday, 7:30 pm – Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Kaizer Chiefs (Loftus Versfeld)
A Pirates win would cut the deficit to two points, keeping pressure on Sundowns. Meanwhile, a Chiefs victory or draw would deny Sundowns the full three points, potentially opening the door for Pirates to close the gap further in their remaining games.
Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso acknowledged the challenge, stating that his side “cannot afford to drop points” en route to a ninth straight league title and emphasized the need to focus on their own performance rather than relying on rivals’ slip‑ups.
With only a week and a half left in the regular season, every point carries heightened significance. Sebola’s call for tactical flexibility — particularly the deployment of both Mbuthuma and Makgopa from the start — could provide Pirates with the varied attacking thrust needed to overturn Stellenbosch’s resilient defence and keep the title race alive.
