TALKING POINTS | Victorious Orlando Pirates were time-wasters — but by George, Washington was brilliant again

After the weekend’s Carling Knockout Cup semi-finals, there were gracious losers, while others were less so. And some relied on gamesmanship — like time-wasting — to run the clock down and protect their leads. Here are the key talking points:

Pirates were time-wasters

Richards Bay head coach Ronnie Gabriel expressed immense pride in his team’s performance against Orlando Pirates on Saturday. Gabriel highlighted the pressure his side exerted throughout the game, particularly in the second half, when it became evident Pirates were under strain.

"We put them under serious pressure," Gabriel noted, reflecting on the relentless pursuit that seemed to unsettle the Pirates’ strategy.

He added that Pirates resorted to time-wasting tactics, with their goalkeeper even receiving a yellow card for deliberately delaying play.

"Instances like these show that we had them on the back foot for significant periods of the match," Gabriel added, underlining Richards Bay’s dominance despite the final scoreline.

Richards Bay under the cosh

Despite Gabriel’s claims that Pirates were under pressure, the match statistics tell a different story. Pirates enjoyed 59% possession and registered 16 shots at goal, eight of which were on target, keeping Richards Bay’s goalkeeper Ian Otieno very busy.

In contrast, Pirates’ keeper Sipho Chaine only faced four shots, with just one on target. Richards Bay’s high-press tactics backfired at times, catching six players offside, compared to just one for Pirates.

By George! Washington was dazzling

Marumo Gallants’ celebrations after their penalty shootout win over favourites Golden Arrows were unforgettable. Goalkeeper Washington Arubi was hoisted shoulder-high by his teammates — a fitting tribute to the 37-year-old Zimbabwean, whose experience proved decisive.

In the shootout, Arubi made two remarkable saves against Brandon Theron and Thabo Matlaba, inspiring his side and keeping their hopes alive. His teammate Ibrahim Bance then converted the decisive penalty, sending Gallants through to the final and cementing Arubi’s status as a match-winner once again.

Victorious Ouaddou: Cool it, guys

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou guided his side to their 10th final in five years with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Richards Bay. Despite the victory, Ouaddou remained grounded, urging patience and humility in evaluating his work.

"It’s too early to summarise my work; history will judge me at the end of the season," he said.

"I’m still at the beginning. In this job, you have to be very humble."

Ouaddou’s measured approach reflects his commitment to continuous improvement and maintaining squad balance as Pirates pursue another trophy.

Mngqithi: I’m not impressed

Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi was candid after his side’s penalty shootout defeat to Marumo Gallants, criticising their tactics.

"I’m not impressed with their football," Mngqithi said, highlighting the ongoing debate between effectiveness and entertainment in football, where results often take precedence over style.

"The summary of it is that they are in the final. Impressed with my football, but not in the final. That’s football for you," he added, underscoring the frustration of producing attractive play without the reward of victory.