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BELIEVER: Former Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Brian 'Spiderman' Baloyi

Linchpin: Orlando Pirates poacher Benni McCarthy

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The Premier League season kicks off tonight and champions Pirates have been singled out by pundits, who have also warned that striker Benni McCarthy will need to stay injury-free for the Buccaneers to keep the trophy.

"It obviously takes longer for players over 30 to recover from injuries. But it's important for Pirates for Benni to stay fit and ready to score the goals to help them defend the title," said Brian Baloyi, a former Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper.

Baloyi has picked the Buccaneers to be the team to beat this season, adding that while rivals Chiefs, Sundowns and SuperSport United will always be in the running, it "looks like Pirates are clear favourites once again".

Pirates open their season with a home game against Lamontville Golden Arrows at Orlando Stadium, with the other match tonight seeing Matsatsantsa travelling to the Mother City to face Ajax Cape Town.

Isaac "Shakes" Kungwane, Baloyi's teammate at Chiefs in the 1990s, also believes Pirates can win the league, but chose Moroka Swallows, last season's runners-up, to repeat the feat.

Kungwane, now a TV soccer analyst, said: "Pirates have got enough depth to cover each and every position. And they are doing it by signing experienced players."

He said Chiefs's 4-1 defeat to Sundowns in the MTN8 this past weekend showed that there was still "something missing in that Chiefs team", but that shouldn't cloud their entire season.

Sundowns still have a believer in former coach Ian Gorowa, who yesterday said keeping Johan Neeskens at the helm was the right move by club president Patrice Motsepe.

But Gorowa noted that Sundowns lack the "winning mentality that Pirates have".

And finally, Lucas Radebe, a long-time admirer of Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter, believes the Englishman will bring the glory days back to Naturena.

"They have bought well and I think those players have got what it takes to win trophies for Chiefs this season," said the former Bafana skipper. "I think they have such a good motivator in Stuart and if they can stay disciplined, they can win cups."

Comments

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Sun May 19 22:52:05 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 10, 2012

Mokgaditse

Lucas, I respect very much but I think this time Jessica has given you a cake to eat boy, this reflectors are not going to win anything. All they know is to open legs and others do the jobs in there.You were a good player and maybe a supporter of the reflectors but boet you are in for crying times until the zoo is full of small zebras, bcos the way they are opening the legs I tell you they will only get five zebras at a time.
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Aug 10, 2012

1andonlybucs

we can all add all different views and argue no-stop. but the truth is Orlando Pirates has reached the limit that no other team in SA has reached in the past two seasons. pirates are unstopable!
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Aug 10, 2012

Ngwedane'endala

Lucas is smoking mountain cabbage and its not good for him, these Zebras wont win anything.
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Aug 10, 2012

Nzwere

Mokgaditse
Lucas, I respect very much but I think this time Jessica has given you a cake to eat boy, this reflectors are not going to win anything. All they know is to open legs and others do the jobs in there.You were a good player and maybe a supporter of the reflectors but boet you are in for crying times until the zoo is full of small zebras, bcos the way they are opening the legs I tell you they will only get five zebras at a time.
====================================
kwakwakwakwakwakwakwa, eish, you are killing me, kwakwakwakwakwa
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Aug 10, 2012

Westkanjalo

LOL im still saying "STUPID BAXTER" will be fired from Zebra Family business before the 10th game of the new season and they will hire PITSO who lead lead them 2 a path of loosers and pieces (love & peace) dankie slimkat &BBM that idiot wont b coming 2 the DTC camp, watch us winners go 4 a treble of trebles + anoda star on our badge, ZEBRAS cnt even riiiiiise 2 a treble of plastic cups @least dey won i GAUTENG CUP dey cnt wait 4 MACUFE lol da champs beat them 2 i Black, SUNDOWN & SUPERSPORT R LOOKING GOOD, anoda xciting season on da cards for PSL, UP DA BUCS TIL ZEBRAS & SUNCLOWNS R DTC,
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Aug 10, 2012

Nzwere

I said it before that Zebras, with new players and a new coach, will need at least 3 seasons to gel. so this season they are just going to keep afloat, just like platinum stars, wits, swallows and other small teams. they are going to win no silverware, except Macufe ofcourse. the 4-1 drubbing they got from Sunflops was just the beginning.

Not even the sky is the limit, Bucs is the limit.....
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Aug 10, 2012

T'dpole

Lucas' illucination is caused by the fact that he is desperate for a job and is hoping lying Baxter will bring him on board but i can assure you all, whatever that he is smoking will evaporate soon........I think he has lost it......he must go to FNB and ask for a next advert to buy cabbages for his boys cos he is hungry for some...........glory days, what glory days.............the 90's..............damn.................................
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Aug 10, 2012

ONEE

mmmmmhhh Lucas I respect you broe, but what are you talking about?
is it faith or scared to speak negative about Khosi.
No man give the challenge to the boys they need it, what ever is missing needs to be fixed without making them count their chickens before the eggs hatch.


ONCE AND ALWAYS.
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Aug 10, 2012

Stayaway

UP THE BUCS
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Aug 10, 2012

LeparaThePresident

Sundowns e user speed sa paraffin, se tlo fela not so long.And e tlo draw on weekeend.
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