Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine believes last season’s league success should become the beginning of a sustained period of title-winning rather than a one-off achievement.
Pirates ended a 14-year wait for the league championship last season, with Chaine making a major contribution by recording a club-record 21 clean sheets. The Bafana Bafana goalkeeper says the club now has the standards and belief required to challenge for the title year after year.
“You’ve seen what we have built over the years and it’s not going to stop now. Winning is a culture at Orlando Pirates. We are going into every game expecting and working hard to win,” said Chaine.
Pirates’ success in the league marked a significant change in the balance of power in South African football. It brought Mamelodi Sundowns’ eight-year reign as champions to an end and gave the Sea Robbers a platform on which to build.
Chaine believes the league title should now be treated as a familiar target for Pirates, in much the same way the club has approached the MTN8 in recent seasons.
“Even the league title is no longer an unfamiliar territory for us, so the aim is to do it again and again, like we have done with the MTN8.”
The goalkeeper accepts, however, that defending the championship will present a different challenge from winning it for the first time. Pirates will be expected to perform at the same level while their rivals attempt to reclaim the title.
“We know that it’s going to take a lot because every season is different and, now that we’ve won it, it will be even harder because it’s much easier to chase than to maintain when you are at the top … It’s the most difficult thing because the reference has to be yourself and what you want to do more.”
Pirates’ immediate focus is on the MTN8, where they face Durban City in the quarter-finals on Saturday. The match is scheduled to begin at 15:00 at Orlando Amstel Arena.
The fixture offers Pirates an early opportunity to continue their strong record in the competition. Their success in the MTN8 has provided a model for the consistency Chaine wants the club to achieve in the league, with the goalkeeper drawing inspiration from their run of four successive MTN8 titles.
Pirates’ next challenge will therefore combine the pressure of beginning another cup campaign with the wider expectations created by last season’s championship triumph. Chaine’s message is that the club’s winning mentality must continue, regardless of the competition or the increased attention that comes with being champions.
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