I believe it was a tactical change. It has been a very difficult season for him (stats wise) but to be fair to him, it's very difficult to come to a big club like Orlando Pirates and perform.
Nobody expected Stellenbosch to have such a difficult season. Analysts predicted the lose of quality players (and replacing them with young reserves) would have an effect on their performances and league position but nobody said a relegation fight.
At Orlando Pirates his competing against 3 Bafana creative midfieders in this team. Their style of play is completely different to Stellenbosch. At Stellenbosch, he was the centre of their attack play, but at OP, Mofokeng(21) dictates. Mofokeng, who got a hattrick in the last game and leads the league with assists, will definitely be leaving in July (hopefully to Minnesota because Cam desperately needs him). His going to need time to adjust, but the good thing is his getting game time. Also, the games he has played, his been incredibly unlucky not to score more goals.
I get what you saying as it's a WC year. He does not suit Baze preferred formation of 4-3-3 - (he suits 4-2-3-1), so not even sure why he gets picked. Hopefully he gets game time next week, so fans can see what he can offer.
Adj off the pine on the 67 minute (replacing Appollis, who scored OP 1st goal). A replacement that fans were surprised and not happy with as Appollis is a regular goalscorer(according to media). So regular that Chicago Fire came calling for him in January in fact. OP refused after they had already sold another player to CF the same offseason.
Adj scores on the 89 minute but it's ruled as an infringement on the goalkeeper. Which is was lol. See the highlights.
The draw is obviously not good for OP title hopes as Mamelodi Sundowns looks unlikely to drop any points going into the final stretch.
Would recommend a watch. Highlights on YT. 4 outstanding goals.
So yipe ADJ on at 67 mins (Pirates trailing 2-1) as it finishes 2-2. Costly draw for OP (2nd, 55 pts) who likely lose ground on leaders Sundowns (56 pts & game in hand).
Sundowns juggling a 2 legged CAF Champions League semi final against Esperance Tunis.
ADJ with 201 mins over 7 PSL games with Pirates. 0 goals, 0 assists. Before his move to the big Soweto club, in the early part of the season he had 2 goals & 1 assist in the PSL with Stellies.
about 2 months ago· edited about 2 months ago· History
Southern Africa comes to a standstill for the Soweto Derby. Arguably the biggest Derby in Africa.
3rd vs 2nd could be an absolute banana skin for the Buccaneers title hopes. Mamelodi Sundowns draw against Stellies during the week gave "the ghost" real hope for League glory.
With Mamelodi Sundowns distracted with the CAF Champions League final will they slip up in the league?
Adj not likely to start but will be hoping to get off the pine in front of the 101k crowd (capacity of FNB Stadium is only 94k😂). What a game to score...🤞
The Cairo Derby between Al Ahly and Zamalek can be up there.
AI It is one of Africa's most intense football rivalries, historically drawing massive crowds of up to 120,000 at Cairo International Stadium. While high-stakes matches often see capacity crowds, recent matchups have featured tightened security, with 35,000 tickets authorized for events in 2025.
Historical Peak: Records show attendances reaching 100,000 to 120,000 in the past. Average/Reported Crowd: 70,000–75,000
Wydad Casablanca Vs Raja Casablanca (Morocco) also a biggie.
I think ADJ needs to get mins in a game like the Soweto derby to warrant WC inclusion.
about 2 months ago· edited about 2 months ago· History
Cannot see Adj getting picked for WC squad. Baze considers him a no.9 (as per Chile game), which is not his best position at all. Think Randall does a better job, besides if Woodsy is 52% fit, his getting picked.
I wasn't thinking in terms of stadium capacity only but also on TV ratings (fan participation). PSL is watched across Subsahara Africa. YouTube will show Nigerian TV, influences discussing the Soweto Derby. No doubt the Egyptian Derby is massive but not sure if it's popularity stretches across North Africa, as there are so many great derbies in other North African countries. Maybe it does and I'm being super unfair and ignorant.
Sundowns (now 1st) have had a pair of PSL wins over Polokwane, H&A over a few days. Sundowns now 5 pts clear of Pirates (2nd), but OP the game in hand.
Must win against Stellenbosch tonight for Pirates.
Sundowns also juggling the two legged CAF Champions League final against FAR Rabat later this month.
Mamelodi Sundowns drop points at a crucial stage of the league and handing the advantage to Adj, Orlando Pirates. In a game that was more akin to Karate than football, temperatures ran hot and kicks came flying in. The highlights on YouTube look brutal with about 2 or 3 players coming off due to injury. Referee was totally absent or incompetent to run such an important game in the league. The real surprise is that only 1 player got sent off.
Could Adj finish this tough season with a medal? One can only hope
Adj hopes of winning a league medal got a major boost tonight. TS Galaxy has become a major thorn in Sundowns side in recent history, with the same team knocking them out of the Nedbank Cup Quarter finals. A loss of key players in defence (injury, suspension and form), is having a detrimental effect on Sundowns form. Sundowns strategy to catch up to OP goal difference advantage has also backfired.
The game on the weekend: Mamelodi Sundowns 7 - 4 Siwele fc
Probably the game of the season but a case in point in the tactical approach to getting goals. Mamelodi Sundowns next game is the CAF Champions League Final on Sunday, which on recent form will go in as underdogs.
Orlando Pirates next game is against lowly Orbit College.
about 1 month ago· edited about 1 month ago· History
Pirates (2nd, 65 pts, GD 44) host Durban City (7th).
Sundowns (1st, 68 pts, GD 36) have finished their PSL season with CAF Champions League the focus.
So Pirates with 2 games in hand on Sundowns are in the box seat. A win over Durban City and they are basically champions elect given their much better GD.
Pirates yes travel to lowly Orbit College in their last match.
That Sundowns loss at TS Galaxy yes opened the door for OP.
A PSL title will ease some of ADJ's disappointment in (rightly) missing WC selection.
That’s 16 fixtures across which he’s only played in 217 minutes. Two starts and in one of those he was subbed off at half-time. It’s been a tough task trying to fit into a new squad midway through a successful season when most of the guys he’s competing with are South African internationals.
But there’s a silver lining here which is that Orlando Pirates, despite a 0-0 draw in his absence most recently, will lift the PSL trophy if they win their last game. They’re away to Orbit College who themselves need to avoid defeat in case Magesi wins their last game and knocks them down into the relegation zone. If Pirates don’t win then Mamelodi Sundows will claim the title for the ninth season in a row. Orlando Pirates last won this thing way back in 2011-12. An ADJ winner off the bench for the championship sounds like a decent script.
about 1 month ago· edited about 1 month ago· History
Equation is simple. Pirates (2nd, 66 pts) win away at Orbit College (15th, 2nd last) they are PSL champions.
Unfortunately for Pirates, OC also have alot to play as a win/draw, may see them avoid relegation
Sundowns (currently 1st, 68 pts) have finished their PSL season, and play the 1st leg of the CAF Champions League final away at FAR Rabat in Morocco this weekend.
The very obvious problem that he’s got there is that the 32-man preliminary squad that South African have named ahead of the World Cup contains nine players from Pirates with most of them being attacking players. He’s not only competing with South African internationals for a starting place at this club, he’s competing with them even for his place on the bench. Joining midseason for a team that already had a winning formula was tough mahi. But he’s got a PSL champs medal to show for his efforts and with a full preseason (and maybe some outgoing transfers) next time could be different.
ADJ, one month ago: “Yeah, I think not just the fact that the Pirates are near the top of the table, but also obviously how big a club it is, was something to get to adjust to and get used to. So I think I'm starting to get used to that and really starting to find my feet both at training and hopefully in the games coming up. Really looking forward to the last five games and trying to end strong.
The attacking half of Pirates at the moment is functioning really really well. When guys are in really good form and knocking them in every week, you sort of have to accept that they're playing really well and that obviously they'll start. So for me personally it's just being patient and continuing to work hard at training and obviously taking that opportunity when it comes.”
If you’re going to sit on the bench it might as well be for the best team in the country. ADJ has already played a fair bit of CAF Confederation Cup from his time with Stellies and he once played 45 minutes of a CAF Champions League game away against ES Sétif of Algeria back when he was with AmaZulu. So it won’t be anything unique for him but winning the league does mean African Champions League qualification too and those extra games will definitely help with his playing opportunities.
