EXCLUSIVE | Gordon Igesund: Why Orlando Pirates’ direct style makes them favourites against Mamelodi Sundowns

Ahead of Wednesday night’s blockbuster Betway Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, a championship-winning coach with both sides has installed the Buccaneers as slight favourites for the three points.

Gordon Igesund, one of the country’s most decorated coaches, admits that the top-of-the-table clash will produce fireworks and has the potential of going either way, but argues it is far from being a championship decider at FNB Stadium (kick-off 7.30pm).

“In my heart, this is going to be a great game. But in my mind, I'm thinking Pirates are going to win this game. Pirates are, for me, at this stage the favourites because they play a little bit differently. They have got a good team going forward and they play a little bit more direct than Sundowns do,” said the man, who holds the record of being the only coach to win the Premiership title with four different clubs.

“Sundowns want to keep it; start from the back; go left, go right, go back. They play a little bit slower and with patience. Pirates aren't going to be sucked into areas where they shouldn't be. I think Pirates are going to say, 'let's put them under a lot of pressure at the back; let’s take the game to them.’”

He added: “Pirates will press at the right times, and they'll allow Sundowns to have the ball in their own area as long as they are not doing any damage with it. But they will get to a situation where they're going to say to themselves as a team, when the ball gets into these areas, that's where we've got to pressurise.

"Whether they go man-to-man or whatever the tactics the coach wants to use, I think this will be a tactical game.”

Igesund, a champion with Pirates in 2001, believes Sundowns are the team under the most pressure going into this match, finding themselves in the unusual position of chasing as they trail Pirates by three points, although with a match in hand.

“Sundowns are not used to having to chase the league. They are used to being on top by 12 points or nine points. Now, they are behind Pirates.

"The pressure might be on them a little bit, but Sundowns are very familiar with pressure. They've been playing under it for many years and know how to deal with it.”

All that notwithstanding, Igesund — a league winner with Sundowns in the 2006/07 season — says this match will be a tight affair.

“Both teams know what's at stake and I think the ones who can hold their nerves the longest will succeed.”

While the winner will gain a psychological edge, Igesund, who also won the championship with Manning Rangers and Santos, says there is too much of the season remaining for the result to be considered title-deciding.

“I don't think it's going to be the decider so early in the season. I think there's still plenty of time to go.”

The fact that Pirates are currently top of the table has brought much-needed excitement to the league, Igesund notes.

“I think secretly people are hoping that Pirates win the league because Sundowns have been dominating for so long. Sometimes things need to change just for the sake of the game.

"You can't have one team win the league for 25 years. But it is way too early to start saying where the championship will go, even if Pirates prove me right tonight.”