Umqeqeshi we-Orlando Pirates, uKjell Jonevret, unyathelela phezulu emva kokuba iqela lakhe liqokelele amanqaku amane kule veki. Njengokuba izinto kunqabile ukuba ziyihambele kakuhle imidlalo ide ilandelelana iBucs – kodwa kule iveki ikwazile ukudlula ingabethwanga. Eyona nto isengqondweni yomqeqeshi wePirates kwezi ntsuku; kufumana indawo kwiTop 8 phambi kokuvalwa kwale sizini.

Eli qela laseSoweto lizakuqala iveki entsha linamandla emva kokubetha iChippa United ngo’2-1 kumdlalo we-Absa Premier Soccer League izolo ebusuku e-Orlando Stadium. Amagowuli afakwe nguThamsanqa Gabuza – ofumene ithuba elimnqabeleyo lokuqala umdlalo izolo nelinye igowuli elifakwe nguThabo Matlaba ekude. Lo umdlalo ulandela lowo wePSL obuphakathi kweBucs neBaroka FC oye waphela ngo’1-1 ekuqaleni kwale veki. Kula mdlalo wasekuqaleni kweveki, yacishilelwa iPirates, kangangokuba iBaroka yabanelishwa oko ingazange ukuwuphumelela umdlalo ngenxa yogowuli elafakwa ngu-Issa Sarr ekupheleni komdlalo.

Kumnandi kwiiSea-Robbers kuba ziqokelele amanqaku azityhalele phezulu kwiPSL – kodwa umdlalo wazo awukadibani kakuhle, abadlali basemva basenza iimpazamo kanti naphambili amathuba avelayo akasetyenziswa kakuhle ziifolosi. Kodwa ke okubalulekileyo kumqeqeshi nakubadlali kule isizini kukuqinisekisa ukuba iqela lifumane indawo kwiTop 8 – lo nto ingenzeka ukuba liyakwazi [iqela lonke] ukuphumelela le imidlalo ishiyekileyo. UJonevret uzamkele iziphumo zayizolo watsho esithi le yiveki ebintle kwiqela lakhe.

“Iye yandonwabisa indlela esidlale ngayo kwisigaba sokuqala somdlalo, umgangatho wethu ubuphezulu, sidlale kakuhle phaya emva kwaye asibanikanga mathuba okufaka amagowuli.,” utshilo uJonevret emva komdlalo.

“Impazamo esiyenzileyo kukugqwidiza kwimizuzu yokugqibela kwisigaba sokuqala. Bekufaneluba siye kwixesha lokuphumla sihamba phambili ngo’1-1. Ekugqibeleni, siyawamkela amanqaku amathathu. Siwuvalile umsantsa kwiTop 8 yePSL; iveki ibintle kakhulu,” utshilo uJovenret.

Ngoku iPirates ihleli kwindawo yethoba kumanqwanqwa wePSL emva kwemidlalo yale veki.