ORLANDO Pirates might have missed out on the Fifa Club World Cup in Morocco next month, but the Caf Champions League finalists will play plenty of football here at home in December.
The Premier Soccer League yesterday (Monday) confirmed that they would use gaps before the Christmas break – which is from December 22 until January 23 – to implement a catch-up strategy for Pirates in the Absa Premiership.
Pirates, who were beaten 3-1 on aggregate by Egyptian side Al Ahly in the final of the Champions League in Cairo at the weekend, are bottom of the log after only playing three league matches so far this season.
This has left the Buccaneers with seven games in hand after one win, a draw and a defeat. With Pirates reaching the end of the road in their African safari on Sunday, the fixture poser can now be dealt with.
“There are some midweek games in December that we will used for that. We will use every opportunity to play catch-up,” said PSL general manager Derek Blanckensee.
The league came under heavy criticism when a decision to cancel all of Pirates’ domestic matches this month was taken, leaving them with just the Telkom Knockout semifinal clash against SuperSport United at Lucas Moripe stadium on November 23.
This created an even bigger pile-up. But PSL general manager Derek Blanckensee said the league was keen to see the Buccaneers go into the Christmas break at least having made up some ground on their counterparts, who will reach the 15-game halfway mark then. Had Pirates beaten Al Ahly, the South Africans would now be preparing to travel to Morocco early this month to take part in the Club World Cup from December 11 to 21 and the PSL would have had to again push to their league commitments to a later date.
The worst case scenario then would have seen Pirates at the most managing to squeezinge in two matches before another tournament.
However, being available to improve their log position, the Buccaneers now look likely to play more than the four scheduled games on the official fixture list next month.
The Telkom Knockout organisers are also eager to see the competition not drag as long as it has already after the other semifinal between Kaizer Chiefs and Platinum Stars was moved to November 23. This was done to allow the Champions League first leg final clash against Al Ahly at Orlando stadium to be the only top-flight football match in South Africa on the day. The likely date for the Telkom Knockout final is November 30.
Pirates turn attention to busy league programme
The Premier Soccer League yesterday (Monday) confirmed that they would use gaps before the Christmas break – which is from December 22 until January 23 – to implement a catch-up strategy for Pirates in the Absa Premiership.
Pirates, who were beaten 3-1 on aggregate by Egyptian side Al Ahly in the final of the Champions League in Cairo at the weekend, are bottom of the log after only playing three league matches so far this season.
This has left the Buccaneers with seven games in hand after one win, a draw and a defeat. With Pirates reaching the end of the road in their African safari on Sunday, the fixture poser can now be dealt with.
“There are some midweek games in December that we will used for that. We will use every opportunity to play catch-up,” said PSL general manager Derek Blanckensee.
The league came under heavy criticism when a decision to cancel all of Pirates’ domestic matches this month was taken, leaving them with just the Telkom Knockout semifinal clash against SuperSport United at Lucas Moripe stadium on November 23.
This created an even bigger pile-up. But PSL general manager Derek Blanckensee said the league was keen to see the Buccaneers go into the Christmas break at least having made up some ground on their counterparts, who will reach the 15-game halfway mark then. Had Pirates beaten Al Ahly, the South Africans would now be preparing to travel to Morocco early this month to take part in the Club World Cup from December 11 to 21 and the PSL would have had to again push to their league commitments to a later date.
The worst case scenario then would have seen Pirates at the most managing to squeezinge in two matches before another tournament.
However, being available to improve their log position, the Buccaneers now look likely to play more than the four scheduled games on the official fixture list next month.
The Telkom Knockout organisers are also eager to see the competition not drag as long as it has already after the other semifinal between Kaizer Chiefs and Platinum Stars was moved to November 23. This was done to allow the Champions League first leg final clash against Al Ahly at Orlando stadium to be the only top-flight football match in South Africa on the day. The likely date for the Telkom Knockout final is November 30.
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