Orlando Pirates may have handed Royal AM a beating, but they will leave Durban with a huge problem.
Pirates were again on hand to put four over a Durban-side, after a 4-0 win against Royal AM on Sunday.
Goals came courtesy of Patrick Maswanganyi from the spot, Thalente Mbatha, Kabelo Dlamini and Relebohile Mofokeng. Apart from being prolific in front of goal, Pirates coach Jose Riveiro will also be happy that his side kept a clean sheet.
Maswanganyi suspended for Pirates
Unfortunately for them, however, the man who opened the scoring in Maswanganyi also picked up a yellow card. That was his fourth caution during the current cycle, which meant an automatic one-game suspension. The playmaker will now miss Pirates’ crunch encounter against Cape Town City in Cape Town on Wednesday evening.
Maswanganyi is not the only player suspended for that encounter. Veteran midfielder Makhehlene Makhaula will also not travel with the Pirates side to face Cape Town City.
The loss of Maswanganyi is set to be a big blow for Pirates. This because he has been at the centre of their attacking displays. Since joining the Buccaneers in a shock move from SuperSport United, he has had 19 goal goal contributions in 34 games in all competitions as it stands. That has come in the form of nine goals and 10 assists.
He has been in sensational form
That type of form has not only seen him become a Pirates fan darling, but also catch the eye of Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos. Maswanganyi recently made his long-awaited national team bow against Andorra in an embarrassing 1-1 draw. This encounter was part of the FIFA series that took place in Algeria during the previous international window.
With Maswanganyi going from strength to strength for Pirates since then, he could well be in the Bafana squad too. The national team will next be in action against Nigeria in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier away in June.