Orlando Pirates’ defender-cum-midfielder Bandile Shandu says their title race fate is solely on their hands, and that’s why they are not focusing on other teams.
Pirates are second on the log with 40 points, 18 behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns who have played four games more.
With the rescheduling of their games in hand yet to be decided, Pirates could trim that gap to 15 points if they beat Sundowns today.
☠ Final Preparations 💪🏾
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— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) March 15, 2025
Pirates will host Sundowns at the Calabash at 3.30pm, not only eager to bag three points, but to avenge their 4-1 loss in the first leg last month.
Shandu, though, is adamant that they won’t be obsessed with beating the champions for external reasons, instead they want to improve themselves as a unit.
“If we improve ourselves then we are going to get closer to our ambitions. Why then do we need to look somewhere else?” Shandu explained.
“We are focusing on ourselves and trying to improve as a team. We are trying to get better as well, and everything will take care of itself.”
Shandu is not the only Pirates’ personnel who thinks they can still challenge for the title as coach Jose Riveiro and striker Tshegofatso Mabasa still share the same sentiments.
The team has been blowing hot and cold, though, as they drew their last game away to Stellies after failing to score due to the Capetonians’ stubborn defensive traits.
Shandu believes that they are on the right track as long as they continue to do their bit and try to get as many points as possible.
“Personally, I don’t look at that, but I look at Orlando Pirates. We are focused on ourselves, and try to get better day by day,” he said.
“I think that the goal for us as a group is to try to get better and move forward as a collective. That’s the focus as a group.”
The Pirates technical team has done well as a group as well, winning five trophies out of seven having only missed out on the Carling Knockout in the last two seasons.
But they know that winning the title is the main goal as that will enable them to entrench their names in the history books of the club.
And so, with Riveiro having recently become the highest capped Pirates’ coach after taking charge of his 120th game against Stellies, he and his backroom staff are still eyeing the championship crown.
“I think the support that we have been getting from the technical team has been amazing – they’ve been helping us from day one,” Shandu explained.
“They are trying to make us focus on ourselves even though there’s noise. We have also got an amazing group and senior players, so it hasn’t been that much difficult.”
Shandu is one of the senior players at Pirates. And as such, he’s made a timely return from injury as he’s contributing to the progress of the team with every passing game.
Riveiro has made Shandu play in various positions as he’s been a right back and a second striker. Shandu says he’s happy to play wherever he’s tasked as he wants to help the team.
“I think I am a team player. Wherever I am needed, and the coach needs me, I can play there,” the 30-year-old footballer explained.
“And yeah, I am happy with it and enjoying football. So, that’s the main perspective and goal for me (going forward).”
