Five things we learned from Orlando Pirates’ MTN8 win over Durban City

Orlando Pirates edged Durban City 2-1 after extra time in the opening MTN8 quarter-final on Saturday afternoon. newsindata.com

Despite securing their place in the semi-finals, the Buccaneers will not be entirely satisfied with their performance.

Pirates struggled to break down a stubborn Durban City defence, even after being handed a numerical advantage. After Poggenpoel was shown a red card for a foul on Tshepang Moremi, it appeared that the Buccaneers would cruise to victory.

However, City responded shortly after half-time and continued to fight as though they still had 11 players on the pitch.

Pirates MTN8 struggles a concern this season

Pirates created several chances, but once again struggled to convert them. This was a problem for the club throughout last season, and their inability to address it was evident against Durban City.

Head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou introduced the likes of Oswin Appollis, Yanela Mbuthuma and Patrick Maswanganyi. Still, the substitutions failed to make the desired impact as Pirates were eventually dragged into extra time.

The winning goal finally arrived in the final minute of extra time when new signing Ghampani Lungu found the back of the net to send Pirates into the semi-finals.

Here are the major lessons from Orlando Pirates’ victory in the MTN8.

Pirates still struggle from set pieces

Pirates usually win more than 10 set-piece opportunities in a match, but they often fail to turn those chances into genuine goal-scoring opportunities.

Against Durban City, the Buccaneers won more than 20 corners, yet very few of them caused any real problems for the opposition goalkeeper.

Ironically, their decisive goal came from a corner, with Lungu finding space after City failed to mark him properly.

The lack of quality delivery and finishing from set pieces remains a concern. It is an area Pirates will need to improve, particularly with the CAF Champions League ahead.

Pirates looked ordinary in the MTN8 quarter-finals

Kabelo Kgositsile shows promise

Among the new players introduced, Kabelo Kgositsile was one of the most impressive.

The youngster looked lively and threatened the Durban City defence on several occasions. His pace and movement caused problems and gave Pirates another attacking outlet.

Some of the other new arrivals, however, failed to make the same impact. They appeared a level below established players such as Thalente Mbatha and Tshepang Moremi.

Lungu, in particular, struggled for much of the match, but his late winner showed the quality he possesses. Scoring such an important goal could also provide him with a much-needed confidence boost.

Thabiso Sesane’s departure could hurt Pirates

With Nkosinathi Sibisi injured, Ouaddou was forced to make changes in central defence and brought in Mpho Chabatsane.

His partnership with Lebone Seema raised questions, particularly after City managed to score soon after the defensive changes.

Pirates may have been better served keeping Thabiso Sesane, who could have been allowed to impress during the second half of last season.

Had Sesane remained at the club throughout pre-season, he would also have had more time to develop an understanding with Seema.

Given his quality and experience, Sesane could have provided Pirates with another option in defence, especially in a match where they had a numerical advantage for such a long period.

Oswin Appollis’ form remains a concern

Coming into the match, Appollis was seen as Pirates top player and maybe one of the contenders for Last Man Stadning in the MTN8.

Appollis has struggled for form since the FIFA World Cup and once again failed to make a significant impact against Durban City.

The winger was largely ineffective during the match, but considering the lack of impact from some of the substitutes, Pirates may have benefited from keeping him on the pitch.

His lack of creativity and goals has become a concern, particularly when Pirates are dominating possession but struggling to find a way through compact defences.

The Buccaneers will need more from one of their key attacking players as the season progresses.

More struggles upfront for Pirates

Radipane is not the solution

Boitumelo Radipane came on for Yanela Mbuthuma and saw plenty of the ball, but once again failed to provide the cutting edge Pirates needed.

Looking comfortable in possession is not enough for a striker. The primary responsibility is to create clear opportunities and, most importantly, score goals.

Radipane had a late opportunity to seal the victory when he was presented with a chance to make it 3-1, but his effort went straight at the goalkeeper.

Pirates supporters have already expressed frustration with both Radipane and Mbuthuma over their inability to convert chances in the MTN8 quarter-final.

With the CAF Champions League also on the horizon, Pirates may need to consider investing in a proven top-class striker if they want to compete on multiple fronts.

What’s your take on the match?

Argentina host the Springboks in a one-off Test in Buenos Aires on Saturday, with kick off at 9.10pm.

Both teams are missing key players who are either being rested or are injured.

The Springboks though welcome back several formerly injured players who need game-time behind them before the start of the four-Test series against the All Blacks.

Siya Kolis is one of them and he will play his first Test of the year and captain the team on Saturday. Pablo Matera will lead the Pumas.

Below is The Citizen’s live coverage of the match.

Pumas v Springboks – LIVE UPDATES

Updates from the match in Buenos Aires will appear below. Please refresh for latest posts.

TEAMS

ARGENTINA – 15 Gerónimo Prisciantelli, 14 Rodrigo Isgró, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Simón Benítez Cruz, 8 Joaquín Moro, 7 Benjamin Grondona, 6 Pablo Matera (c), 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Francisco Moreno, 2 Ignacio Ruiz, 1 Boris Wenger.
Bench: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Tomás Rapetti, 19 Ephraim Elijah, 20 Juan Penoucos, 21 Juan Martín Scelzo, 22 Agustín Moyano, 23 Matías Moroni.

SPRINGBOKS – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Boan Venter.
Bench: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Cobus Wiese, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Morné van den Berg, 23 Handre Pollard.

Tshwane were the only unbeaten team remaining at the Spar National Netball Championships in Cape Town on Saturday, as they set their sights on reclaiming the SA title they last won six years ago.

The Gauteng North district side defeated hosts Cape Town 59-52 in their only official match on the third day of competition at the domestic spectacle.

Later in the day, Tshwane also beat the Namibia international squad 54-50 in a friendly game.

While games against the international teams – Namibia and Botswana – did not count towards the points table, Tshwane had won all four of their official fixtures thus far, with one day of round-robin games remaining ahead of the play-offs.

On eight points, they were one point ahead of Mangaung who were lying second in the senior A division on seven points.

Cape Town were sitting in third place on six points and defending champions Johannesburg were fourth with five points, followed by Dr Kenneth Kaunda (four points), Nelson Mandela Bay and Ethekwini (two points each).

At the bottom of the table, Alfred Nzo were the only side without a point after being handed four defeats.

The Pumas boosted their Currie Cup playoff hopes with a narrow bonus-point win against the Vodacom Bulls XV at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Coach Jimmy Stonehouse’s team raced into a 19-point lead only to fall behind early in the second half before regaining their composure to triumph 33-31 in a game that produced five yellow cards and a red.

The Pumas moved up to third on the log, while the winless Bulls remain at the bottom.

The visitors started the match strongly, with wave after wave of attack resulting in a try for winger Alfondso Isaacs.

The Bulls then suffered a big blow when flank Abongile Nonkontwana saw yellow for a shoulder tackle – later upgraded to red – and Pumas captain Willie Engelbrecht and lock JJ Scheepers barged over while he was off to make it 19-0 after 21 minutes.

The 14-man Bulls got on the board when Isaacs tackled a probable Bulls’ try-scorer without the ball and were awarded a penalty try, with the Pumas winger sin-binned.

But the hosts then went down to 12 when hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele and replacement loose forward Cephas van Biljon were yellow-carded for cynical breakdown infringements.

To the Bulls’ credit, they repelled the Pumas’ relentless attack and then scored a try through lock Johnathan Eloff with the clock in the red to reduce the deficit to five at the break.

REPORT: Griquas leapfrog Lions to top log

With both teams restored to 15, the Bulls hit the front early in the second half when Mnebelele went over under the posts for a converted try.

But another yellow soon followed, this time flashed at Pumas flank Ntsika Fisanti for a shoulder tackle. That didn’t prevent the visitors from striking back, though, replacement hooker Jan-Henning Campher rumbling over from a lineout maul.

Bulls replacement prop Sandi Msengana levelled the scores at 26-26, only for lock Sintu Manjezi to be sin-binned for collapsing a maul and Campher to score his second.

The Bulls hit straight back through fullback Hakeem Kunene, but the try was scored in the corner and Johannes’ conversion went wide.

LAMBIE: 2010 Currie Cup final better than wedding day

In round five of the Currie Cup, the Pumas host the Stormers XXIII while the Bulls welcome the Cheetahs to Loftus.

BULLS XV – Try: Penalty try, Johnathan Eloff, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Sandi Msengana, Hakeem Kunene. Conversions: Keagan Johannes (2).
PUMAS – Tries: Alfondso Isaacs, Willie Engelbrecht, JJ Scheepers, Jan-Henning Campher (2). Conversions: Nevaldo Fleurs (4).

Photos: Pumas/Facebook

The post Pumas survive Bulls comeback appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Le RC Lens sécurise l’avenir d’Ismaëlo Ganiou. Après une saison 2025-2026 convaincante, le défenseur central de 21 ans a prolongé son engagement avec le club artésien jusqu’en juin 2030.

Cette nouvelle marque la confiance accordée par les dirigeants lensois au jeune défenseur. Ganiou a participé à 29 rencontres toutes compétitions confondues la saison dernière et a également trouvé le chemin des filets à trois reprises.

Avec le départ de Malang Sarr cet été, le Lensois devrait disposer d’un rôle plus important au sein du secteur défensif. Le club compte désormais sur lui pour franchir un nouveau cap et s’installer durablement parmi les cadres de l’équipe.

Cette prolongation de deux saisons supplémentaires permet ainsi au RC Lens de conserver un joueur considéré comme important pour la suite de son projet sportif.

The post Ismaëlo Ganiou prolonge son contrat avec le RC Lens appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.