Mamelodi Sundowns beat Orlando Pirates to extend flawless start

Mamelodi Sundowns extended their flawless start to the 2023/24 season by securing a 1-0 victory over Orlando Pirates at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday, September 20, 2023.

The high-flying Sundowns now boast of seven wins in as many matches this season. The latest win came from a Lucas Ribeiro first-half penalty.

Ribeiro was presented with the opportunity to score his fifth goal of the campaign when Themba Zwane was fouled by Siphelo Baloni, who was making his first start under the guidance of manager Jose Riveiro.

Lucas Ribeiro scored the all-important goal as Mamelodi Sundowns made it seven wins in seven matches. [Photo/Courtesy].

Ribeiro calmly slotted the ball into the net from the penalty spot just 12 minutes into the match.

The contest was characterized more by the charged atmosphere and tension on the field rather than an abundance of goal-scoring opportunities.

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Notably, Ronwen Williams collided with Zakhele Lepasa outside the penalty area just before halftime, receiving only a yellow card, much to the dismay of the Pirates’ players and coaching staff.

The incident escalated, leading to the dismissal of assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi.

The second half unfolded similarly, with Orlando Pirates dominating possession, while Sundowns opted to prioritize their defensive efforts.

Scoring opportunities were scarce, but Mamelodi Sundowns secured all three points to maintain their perfect start to the season.

Furthermore, this victory extended their lead over the Buccaneers by 14 points, despite Orlando Pirates having two games in hand.

The gap between Sundowns and second-placed Golden Arrows now stands at seven points.

Kaizer Chiefs players axed from Bafana Bafana squad

In August, Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos omitted Kaizer Chiefs players from his final 23-man squad for the September 2023 international friendlies.

A week before, Broos had announced a preliminary squad for two friendly matches featuring three players from Kaizer Chiefs: Given Msimango, Sfiso Hlanti, and Pule Mmodi.

Bafana Bafana Hugo Broos — Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos in a past press conference. [Photo/Courtesy].

However, on August 30, 2023, the Belgian coach revealed the trimmed-down roster of 23 players, conspicuously excluding any representatives from South Africa’s most accomplished football club.

“Chiefs have to improve. I saw the game last Saturday, I was at the game of Chiefs [and] I’m very sorry but now for a moment there is no player (from Kaizer Chiefs) who deserves to be a Bafana Bafana player,” the Belgian said.