1x2 Free Betting Tips !: Orlando Pirates

Teko laughs off trophy jinx claim

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teko Modise says talk of him being a trophy jinx doesn’t bother him at all.

For years now, the 31-year-old has had to contend with suggestions that he brings some bad luck to clubs he plays for with SuperSport United and Orlando Pirates having failed to win anything when Modise was there, but bringing home silverware when he had left.

And with Sundowns on the verge of winning the League, the jinx claims have once again surfaced but Modise insists he won’t be discouraged ahead of tonight’s clash against SuperSport at Loftus Stadium.

“I have been in unfortunate situations in the past and it is something that I can’t control. The same goes for the game against SuperSport United, because I don’t even know what’s going to happen,” he says.

“But I’m not going to focus on anything beyond the field of play and I will just do my best as a footballer.”

Modise, though, acknowledges that despite his individual accolades over the years he does feel ‘empty’ without a team trophy and with that in mind, he is going all out to help Sundowns bring home silverware for the first time since 2008.

“My ambition has always been the same and it has always been clear from when I started playing football. It has always been to win something with the team and individually, and I’m glad that I had an opportunity to win so many things individually.

“But it comes to a point where it feels empty when you don’t win with the team. I had an opportunity at Pirates to win with the team and it didn’t happen because we didn’t get the six goals against AmaZulu in the last game of the season losing the League on goal difference in 2009. It was painful after the game knowing the fact that we were so close, but I have another opportunity now. In football, there are other people who are lucky. They play half a season and win the League, that’s how football is.

“I’m just grateful that the experiences I had made me the person that I am today,” Modise concludes.

Competition is tough Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates striker Lennox Bacela is eager to feature in tonight's Premiership clash with Bidvest Wits at Bidvest Stadium.

Bacela, who has struggled for regular game-time, will have bettered his prospects by netting as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Platinum Stars at the weekend.

He told his club's official website: “I am glad I got a run on Saturday – I personally felt it was important for me to come in and change the game and fortunately for me, things turned out just the way I wanted.

“We do not have much to fight for in the League apart from wanting to be in the top eight, but a match against Wits demands a lot from everybody. We have to stay focused and put our best foot forward.”

The ex-Bloemfontein Celtic man added: “Competition for places here is tough – we have very good players who can play in most teams in the country so, for me it is important to stay focused and put away the chances I get so that I increase my chances of being in the team every week.

“It is a tough job but with the help of God I will keep fighting to do what I’m here for.”

Vermezovic can make instant impact

Orlando Pirates must get themselves back on track with the speed of a Usain Bolt this week, as successive Soweto derbies give them little time to wallow in a rather dismal loss to the University of Pretoria.

The Buccaneers might just be helped in their task by the breath of fresh air blown in by the arrival of a new man in charge, with Vladimir Vermezovic, work permit now stamped, expected to be on the bench for the trip to Moroka Swallows tomorrow night, and the “home” derby against Absa Premiership leaders, and Vermezovic’s former club, Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday afternoon.

Pirates are currently 13 points behind Amakhosi, with one game in hand, and 12 games to go (for the Bucs) in the title race. Vermezovic must hit the ground running if Pirates are to have any chance of catching Chiefs, and the first issue has to be getting Pirates firing at the attacking end of the field.

The Buccaneers’ strikers have been pretty poor in the league all season, signified in the fact that their top scorer in the Absa Premiership is midfielder Oupa Manyisa, with four goals. Kermit Erasmus, the club’s highest scoring striker in the league, has netted twice.

Erasmus missed a wonderful chance to give Pirates the lead against Tuks in the last 10 minutes on Saturday, evening, and this error was compounded when Tuks went up the other end and scored the winner.

“I had a great chance to score but it did not happen and that obviously makes me disappointed. Had I converted that chance, it could ease the pressure a bit from us but I have to move on,” Erasmus told the Pirates official website.

“It is really tough to get in the squad and we all want to do well when on the field. Scoring is what gives us confidence to keep a good form as strikers; but I have to keep working and hope to do better next time.”

If one compares Pirates’ strikers to Chiefs’ it is easy to see why Amakhosi are so far in front – Bernard Parker, Knowledge Musona and Kingston Nkhatha have, between them, netted 21 of Chiefs’ 31 league goals this season.

There has to also be some doubt among Pirates fans about the appointment of Vermezovic, who did not win the league in three seasons at Chiefs, though he did pick up two Telkom Knockout titles.

Vermezovic, however, does have an instant chance to endear himself to Bucs fans, if he can beat Swallows and Chiefs in quick succession.

Swallows are, on paper, the easier opponent, with Zeca Marques’s side struggling to make an impact this season.

The Birds are currently six points behind Pirates, and in some danger of being dragged into a relegation battle, having won just one of their last nine league games. - The Star

Labels:News,Orlando Pirates,Sport

Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa has been added to the Bafana Bafana squad that will face Brazil on Wednesday.

Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa has been added to the Bafana Bafana squad that will face Brazil on Wednesday.

Predict result and win big with Soccer6

The 26-year-old replaces injured captain Itumeleng Khune who sprained his ankle in the warm-up prior to Kaizer Chiefs' CAF Champions League first-leg clash with Liga Muculmana de Maputo on Saturday.

Meyiwa's selection marks an incredible turnaround which has seen the 26-year-old go from being on the verge of being consigned to the the Buccaneers bench to being part of the national squad.

"This is a big moment for me. I did not expect the call. I went through some tough moments in the past few weeks but I have bounced back stronger," Meyiwa told Pirates' official website.

"I managed to keep two clean sheets in two high profile matches, so, I think that influenced the coaches' decision to call me for this match against Brazil.

"I can only grow from here on... I now have a chance to be in goals against the best players in the World; so, it is up to me to graft hard in the next days and hope that i get chosen to be in the staring eleven; I thank the (National team) coaches for the opportunity."

Labels:News,Orlando Pirates,Sporting