Ex-Downs: Josta Dladla Offers Insight into Pirates’ Recent Struggles Ahead of MTN8 Final Showdown

Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Josta Dladla sheds light on Orlando Pirates’ recent struggles and hints at their victory challenges.

Orlando Pirates recently struggled, failing to win their last three matches. They broke the streak with a 1-0 victory against Jwaneng Galaxy.

Their exit from the CAF Champions League at Jwaneng Galaxy’s hands disappointed fans and raised performance questions.

LIVE: Sundowns vs Pirates

Orlando Pirates faces Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final, set for Saturday, October 7th, at Moses Mabhida Stadium, kick-off at 18:00.

Dladla’s insights could impact their strategy in the final, making it a must-watch for football enthusiasts anticipating this intense showdown.

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Josta Dladla, in an interview with FARPost, has pinpointed Orlando Pirates’ recent struggles, attributing them to underperforming key players.

Dladla emphasized that influential figures like Monnapule Saleng and Zakhele Lepasa haven’t been living up to expectations.

Additionally, the absence of a dynamic presence like Philip Ndlondlo in midfield has hindered the team’s creative potential.

These revelations shed light on the factors contributing to Orlando Pirates’ recent challenges, providing valuable insight for fans and analysts alike.

“For me, why Pirates hasn’t been playing well in last few games is that they got influential players who haven’t been doing that well,” Dladla told FARPost.

“Players like Monnapule Saleng haven’t been coming through. You also have Zakhele Lepasa who hasn’t been scoring those goals for Pirates.

“Philip Ndlondlo, obviously a quick player in the middle, and when he’s having a good game you see a lot of chances being created.”

The retired footballer, 44, criticized Pirates’ defense and its impact on the last four games. He highlighted Tapelo Xoki’s performance, stressing that one conceded goal often hinders their comeback.

Notably, last season, Pirates reached the MTN8 final by defeating Tshwane giants 3-0 in the second leg of the semi-final at New Peter Mokaba, following a goalless first leg. Kermit Erasmus and Monnapule Saleng’s goals secured Pirates’ finals spot, eventually leading to a 1-0 victory against AmaZulu.