Former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Benedict ‘Tso’ Vilakazi has given his predictions for the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season, however, boldly left the defending champions out of his top three.
Vilakazi’s top three has Pirates in first, followed by SuperSport United and Cape Town City in third position, and he believes that Sundowns’ technical team changes will definitely have a negative impact, as he believes the duo of Manqoba Mngqithi and Steve Komphela does not threaten anyone.
Pirates have finished second in the last two successive seasons, with Vilakazi emphasising that there is no better time for the Buccaneers to finish top. He also added that Cape Town City just need a kick to get their act together, and Gavin Hunt’s experience is good enough to see Matsatsantsa finish third.
“They [Pirates] do have the resources, they do have everything at their disposal,” said Tso on iDiski TV.
“That’s why I’m saying there is no better time than now for Pirates. When everyone is still facing challenges in their house that’s the time for you to move.
“I mean you can see Sundowns right now they are shaking. They have got their own problems and I’m 100% sure that those problems will affect the team.
“So this is the right time for Pirates to do so especially because you can also see [Kaizer] Chiefs is nowhere.
“Number two I’m going with experience of Gavin Hunt. Hunt is one coach who doesn’t have that much quality but he’s got decent players and they are always in the top three mix. So I’m giving him position two.
“I know he’s struggling a bit with certain players. [Shandre] Campbell has left and he’s trying to replace him with [Vincent] Pule who is experienced. I think that’s a very good signing so I’m giving him number two because of his [Hunt] experience.
“Number three I will give it to Eric [Tinkler] has got a very good team. I’m going to put pressure on him to say with the quality of players that you’ve got, the worst should be number three.
“He has a good eye for players, his team always does well I mean that’s the only team that beat Sundowns last season. This tells you that Eric can do it, he just needs pressure from me because I know he can do it.”
