Moloi Hails Current Pirates Generation As Superior To Double Treble

Former Orlando Pirates assistant coach Teboho Moloi has lauded the club’s current generation as a special group, even suggesting they surpass the double-treble winning teams he previously coached.

Moloi was an integral part of the technical team, serving as assistant coach to the Orlando Pirates side that achieved their first treble in the 2010/11 season – clinching the MTN8, league title, and Nedbank Cup under Ruud Krol.

They repeated this feat in the following season, securing the MTN8, Telkom Knockout, and the league title under the guidance of Julio Cesar and Augusto Palacios.

Pirates also reached the CAF Champions League final in 2013 under Roger de Sa but ultimately lost to Al Ahly of Egypt. Two years later, they reached the CAF Confederation Cup final but were defeated by Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia under Eric Tinkler.

This current generation of Orlando Pirates has demonstrated remarkable consistency, winning the MTN8 three times consecutively under the departing coach Jose Riveiro. They are also on track for a third consecutive Nedbank Cup final appearance after their semi-final victory this past weekend. They are scheduled to face Kaizer Chiefs at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on 10 May.

“In the past, I have consistently stated that this is a special group,” Moloi affirmed. “I emphasized that our players need to truly grasp the meaning of the word ‘special.’ “They are the different from the treble team and double treble team, and the team that reached the finals of CAF Champions League [2013] and CAF Confederations Cup [2015]. 

“These are young boys, boys that are still finding their feet, but they are bringing in trophies. For me, that on its own, the understanding of what it takes to wear the Pirates shirt and to be where they are, I’m actually not surprised. 
 

“I expected this year to perform the way that they are performing. Like I have always eluded that, let’s not put them under pressure. Let them enjoy the fruits that we left for them. 

“In 1993, the chairman asked us, go out and win the Iwisa Spectacular and after you have won the Iwisa Spectacular, you win me the BP Top 8. 

“Then, if you are still alive, after those two trophies, this is what you will see [huge progress] and these boys, this is one generation that, even after they lose, you see supporters singing. 

“Where else have you seen Pirates dominating a team after having lost the game and Pirates supporters singing? This is the first time. I always knew that there is something special about these boys.”

Furthermore, this current Pirates side has also reached the CAF Champions League semi-final, where they will face the Egyptian side Pyramids at FNB Stadium this coming weekend in the first leg.

Moloi, who has deep roots with Orlando Pirates as both a former player and the son of club legend Chippa Moloi, believes this team has the potential to go all the way and win the CAF premier club competition.

“I believe they can go all the way,” stated Moloi, who served as assistant coach during Pirates’ previous appearances in the Champions League and Confederation Cup finals. “As I said earlier, let us not put them under pressure with expectations like, ‘Now that you are in the semi-final, you must reach the final and bring home the second star [by winning the Champions League].’ Let them enjoy the success they have achieved; let us all be happy and give our coach [Riveiro] the best send-off South African football has ever seen.

“At Orlando Pirates, they are two players that have had farewells, and I see Riveiro to be the first coach to have a farewell.  

“When my dad retired from football, he was given a farewell. Jomo Sono, when he left Pirates to go and start his Jomo Cosmos in 1986, he was given a farewell. 

“Now, we have a coached who has unified everybody – from my generation to the next generation of the double treble, to this generation. 

“There is a lot of happiness whenever Pirates play, and it is full house at the stadium, sold out… 

“They understand where they are, they understand what is expected from them and they know how to make everyone happy.”