Former Junior Khanye believes pressure affected Orlando Pirates during Saturday’s goalless draw against Durban City.
The Buccaneers needed a home victory to secure the Betway Premiership title. However, they failed to break down a disciplined Durban City side.
As a result, Pirates must beat Orbit College next weekend to win the championship.
Before kickoff, Khanye admitted he expected Pirates to struggle under intense pressure. He also pointed to the electric atmosphere created by the packed crowd.
Speaking on iDiski TV, the outspoken analyst questioned coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s team selection. He also felt nerves affected the Soweto giants.
“I feel sorry for the fans. Going into the game, let’s talk about Orlando Pirates’ starting eleven. I was surprised by Ouaddou’s decision to start with this boy, Simphiwe Selepe, especially in a game of this magnitude,” he said.
“He got a yellow card in the early stages. I wasn’t surprised because when you don’t play for a long time, you become nervous and lose possession often.”
Khanye Predicts Pirates Will Recover
Khanye also claimed several key Pirates players failed to deliver when it mattered most.
“Let’s be honest, Pirates were nervous. Nobody wanted to take responsibility. Mofokeng and Tito were off. Durban City were aggressive today,” he added.
The former Kaizer Chiefs winger revealed he still backed Pirates to win the league. However, he predicted a draw because of the pressure surrounding the match.
“I suspected this was going to happen,” Khanye said.
“Pirates were nervous because their players are not used to such pressure, especially with that crowd. This was a decisive match. Psychologically, they are defeated.”
Despite the disappointing result, Khanye still believes the Buccaneers will bounce back. He expects them to beat Orbit College and secure the league title.
The post ‘I predicted this result’: Junior Khanye on Orlando Pirates draw appeared first on iHarare News.
