Orlando Pirates are not the only side carrying pressure into Saturday’s final Betway Premiership clash against Orbit College.
The Buccaneers travel to Mbombela Stadium knowing victory secures the league title and keeps Mamelodi Sundowns waiting for another week.
Orbit College, meanwhile, are fighting for survival. Defeat combined with a Magesi FC victory would send the Mswenko Boys down.
The two sides meet for the second time this season after the Buccaneers won 1-0 in Soweto, thanks to Lebone Seema’s spectacular strike.
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ORBIT COLLEGE HOLD THE KEY AGAINST ORLANDO PIRATES
That context has not been lost on assistant coach Kabelo Machete. The coach admitted his side understand the significance of the occasion and even joked that tears will be shed after the final whistle.
“I think the premier first alluded, to say the stadium we’re going to is got a banana peel, the tears are gonna be flowing there, but we don’t know tears are gonna be from where,” Machete said.
Victory will mark Orlando Pirates’ fifth PSL title in history, having one the championship in 2000/1, 2002/03, 2010/11 and 2011/12.
“The mood is a very good mood for us as a team to be up against big teams we are playing tomorrow; to be the deciding. We hold the key whether [the league] it’s going to Mamelodi or whether it’s going to Orlando.
“The boys know that we are holding the keys, so if you want the keys, you know where to go – to the students, so, but we’re ready for tomorrow.”
Orbit arrive as clear underdogs but the occasion itself appears to be serving as motivation.
“For us, it’s games like these that you don’t need to motivate the players. Where else are you gonna play in a packed stadium? Where else are you gonna play in a sold-out stadium?” Machete added.
DAVID VS GOLIATH FEEL TO CLASH
Machete even compared the match to the biblical story of David and Goliath.
“It’s a story of David and Goliath in the Bible. We all know the story of David and Goliath. We brought the stone [like how David used it in his sling shot], everyone can see the stone, so which means we’re David in this, so we don’t need five stones, we only need one.
“So, mentally, this is the stone that we prepared [his players] with. Our opposition will be praying in the other dressing room, we will be praying.
“So, we will see if God is from Orlando or he’s from North West. It’s gonna very difficult for all of us. It’s pressure game. We accept the pressure and we’ll flourish under pressure,” he concluded.
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