South African football consultant Peter Du Toit has pointed to key factors that have led to Orlando Pirates’ collapse in their title race.
At one stage, the Buccaneers were top of the Betway Premiership, having won their first seven matches. However, since the start of 2025, their form has dipped dramatically, with four losses in 11 matches, leaving them 18 points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Du Toit believes the primary issue behind Pirates’ decline has been the lack of rotation within the squad, which has left the team struggling to maintain their early-season momentum.
Pirates’ Struggles Exposed in Stellenbosch Match
Du Toit explained that the failure to rotate the squad was painfully evident in their recent match against Stellenbosch, where Pirates played against 10 men for a large portion of the game.
“If this game didn’t show the red light to Riveiro, then there’s a big problem,” Du Toit said on SoccerBeat. He argued that playing with an extra man should have been an advantage for a quality team like Pirates, yet they failed to capitalize.
“The biggest issue is the lack of rotation. Pirates have a big squad, so why isn’t it being rotated?” Du Toit questioned.
The Downfall After the Sundowns Defeat
Du Toit shared his belief that Pirates began to slip after their heavy 4-1 defeat to Sundowns last month, which seemed to signal the start of their decline.
“Pirates are bottom of the table for starting 11 changes,” Du Toit pointed out, adding that only 34 changes had been made throughout the season.
He stressed that there should have been a warning sign after the Sundowns loss, with Pirates’ form and performance declining ever since. He noted that the players appeared fatigued, yet coach Jose Riveiro continued to persist with the same lineup.
The Need for Fresh Faces in the Squad
Du Toit highlighted that Pirates needed fresh legs in the squad to stay competitive.
“There’s no injection of new players,” he stated, pointing to the lack of variety in the lineup as another factor contributing to their struggles.
In conclusion, Du Toit emphasized that Pirates have a strong squad, but their failure to rotate players and bring in fresh energy has cost them dearly in their title race.
