The words of Siwelele FC coach Lehlohonolo Seema at a pre-match press conference that there are no particular players to watchout for at Orlando Pirates as goals can come from anywhere rang true yesterday.
It took a brilliant 40 yards pile drive in just three minutes to full time by a defender to propel cup specialists Orlando Pirates to the quarterfinals of the Carling Knockout at the fortress Orlando Stadium yesterday [October 4].
This was none-other than the young captain fantastic of the Mighty Buccaneers Mbekezeli ‘Mbembo’ Mbokazi, whose powerful distant strike gave the Siwelele FC goal minder Samukelo Xulu no chance and the Sea Robbers advanced to the quarters.
At the pre-match press conference last Thursday, Seema was asked whether he had particular Bucs players that he had ordered for strict policing from his side, and he responded by saying there was no player to police at Orlando Pirates as their goals can come from anywhere and from anyone.
There was nothing closer to the truth than this statement from the Siwelele mentor as The Ghosts’ winning strike came from its captain fantastic, Mbembo, a central defender who has proved it time and again as to why he was the chosen one to wear the armband and leading the Sea Robbers army to war.
Amabhakaniya made its presence felt and intentions known early on in the game with numerous knocks at the Siwelele door and asking pertinent questions, which included obtaining an early penalty in just three minutes of play, that was taken by the fouled striker Evidence Makgopa with a good choice of spot to slot it in but the upright came to the rescue of Xulu.
The menacing Makgopa was tripped again in the eighth minute but this time outside the box and the side had a free kick within range to make amends for the penalty but it was fluffed over the crossbar, and Siwelele lived to see another day.
Siwelele was not so visible in the first half as it absorbed all the pressure from the Buccaneers while seeking to shutdown its menacing trio of strikers, Mokgopa, Oswin Appollis, Relebohile Mofokeng and later Patrick Maswanganyi, who came on for injured ‘Rele’ who was playing the position of a number 10.
On the other hand, former Kaizer Chiefs marksman Nurkovic Samir was also a good nuisance for Amabhakabhaka defenders with his powerful physic and ball control coupled with his potentially dangerous moves, battled the two men that were posted to control and guard him to ensure they neutralised all his efforts.
Pirates got yet another free kick on the edge of the box after Appollis was tripped but dependable Namibian international Deon Hotto failed to produce the desired fruits from the set piece. It took more than 30 minutes for Siwelele to test Bucs keeper Sipho Chaine through a well taken effort by Grant Margermane but went wide of the posts.
Siwelele’s Samkelo Zwane became selfish, instead of passing the ball to a free Samir, decided to try his luck himself but Samir was well positioned to potentially bang the ball to the back of the net. Even Samir himself expressed his frustration at his striking partner when he lifted his hands in disbelief, and the two sides took the oranges break deadlocked 0-0.
A halftime pep talk from Seema saw a rejuvenated Siwelele taking the game to the Sea Robbers and making numerous forays into the Bucs’ danger area but nothing came of it.
Fortress Orlando Stadium erupted into a frenzy in the 87th minute when Mbembo’s beauty of a long-range goal strike rattled the back of the net, and the Bucs’ faithful knew they were into the quarterfinals, just weeks after annexing the MTN8 trophy for the fourth time in a row.
Meanwhile, wheels have truly come off at Mamelodi Sundowns as it was bundled out of the Carling Knockout. The Brazilians were held to goalless draw after the ninety minutes and thrashed 7-6 on penalties by a rampant Marumo Gallants, which also held the Yellow Machine to a 1-1 draw recently in the league just before they were smacked with a solitary goal from Lamontville Golden Arrows in a league game.
Check out the previous story: https://siphosiso.co.za/2025/10/04/league-rookies-siwelele-hopes-to-do-a-magesi-over-pirates/
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