Orlando Pirates captain Oupa Manyisa says there has, for the first time, been talk in the changing room about their complex season and fears of missing out on the top eight. Pirates currently occupy the final MTN8-qualifying position of eighth with five games to go in the Absa Premiership and it will be anything but smooth sailing as the Buccaneers face Bidvest Wits, Mamelodi Sundowns, Bloemfontein Celtic, Ajax Cape Town and Golden Arrows. And while Manyisa knows they are anything but assured a top-eight finish, something the Soweto giants have achieved at the bare minimum in all of the previous seasons in the PSL era, he is confident they can “step up” their game and close out the campaign with a strong showing.

“It’s something that we’ve been talking about [potentially missing out on the top eight] throughout the season,” Manyisa said. “The only thing is that the results didn’t come our way and we didn’t give up hence why the form is up, and we’re still going take it one game at a time.” Manyisa, who has five assists and three goals in the Premiership this season, also said the current dip in form at Pirates isn’t something new, as it also happens to other big teams, both in South Africa and in Europe. “The team had a difficult season, but every team goes through that and I think that now it’s our time to step up,” he concluded.