Orlando Pirates are in danger of mirroring the infamous 2019/20 Kaizer Chiefs collapse. With Sundowns hitting a perfect 10-game winning streak, the Buccaneers have lost control of the title race with only six games left. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
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There is an uncomfortable sense of déjà vu creeping into Orlando Pirates’ title challenge — one that points directly back to the painful lessons endured by Kaizer Chiefs in the 2019/20 season.
Back then, Chiefs did not implode overnight. They remained competitive, continued picking up results, and stayed in the race deep into the campaign. But as the pressure intensified, small slip-ups proved costly — and Mamelodi Sundowns were ruthless in capitalising.
Pirates now find themselves in that exact position.
Following their recent slip against Richards Bay FC on Friday, the Buccaneers are walking a tightrope with just six games remaining. The title is no longer in their hands — and that shift, subtle as it may seem, changes everything.
In isolation, Pirates’ recent form is not alarming. Across their last ten league outings, they have lost just once — notably against Sundowns — and drawn twice. In most title races, that would be considered solid, even impressive.
But this is a race against Sundowns.
In that same period, the Brazilians have produced a perfect 10-game winning streak. No hesitation. No dropped points. Just relentless accumulation. And that is precisely how Chiefs lost the title five years ago.
Pirates’ defeat to Sundowns looms large, not just because of the points lost, but because of the psychological edge it handed to their rivals. It reinforced a familiar narrative — that when it matters most, Sundowns find another level.
The draws have been just as damaging. Matches that could have extended momentum instead slowed it, allowing Sundowns to tighten their grip without needing to chase.
Now, with six games to go, Pirates are no longer dictating the pace of the race. They are reacting to it.
That is the most dangerous position to be in against a team like Sundowns. The mental challenge becomes as significant as the tactical one. Every match is now a must-win. Every result elsewhere carries added weight. And every missed opportunity risks confirming the inevitable.
This is where Chiefs faltered in 2019/20. The pressure to finish the job became overwhelming, margins tightened, and the freedom that defined their earlier performances disappeared.
Yes, it did not help that they had to finish that campaign inside a COVID bubble without their most powerful source, the fans.
Pirates are approaching that same crossroads.
There is still time to respond, still an opportunity to apply pressure of their own. But it will require something close to perfection — not just in results, but in mentality. Because history has already shown how this story can end.
The question now is whether Pirates can rewrite it — or whether they will follow a path that has become all too familiar in South African football’s modern title races.