Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has declared the dream is still alive for his team as they enter the final three weeks of the season neck-and-neck with title rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.
It has been a see-saw battle between the Buccaneers and the Brazilians for much of the year as they keep trading places at the Betway Premiership summit.
Ouaddou’s side got knocked off top spot after they drew 1-1 with Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto derby on April 26, having seen Bafana Ba Style go one point clear of them following a goalless stalemate against Richards Bay.
Masandawana have since played another three matches, picking up seven points in the process, while Pirates responded by beating Stellenbosch 2-0 in midweek to cut the gap to three with a game in hand.
Ouaddou was pleased to see a reaction from his players against the Maroons and insists they will continue to fight until the last in a bid to deny Sundowns a ninth consecutive league title.
“In every league, in every country, if you can look at the Premier League in England, Manchester City and Arsenal are fighting. I think it’s the same fight that we are seeing in South Africa,” Ouaddou said.
“It creates a lot of interest for South African fans… if you know at the beginning of this season who is going to be champion, you lose interest.
“So, this season, we try to bring more competitiveness. I think the boys really did well, and I think it was really a good test today for us… So, for us, the dream is still here.
“The players are going to fight… maybe people will know the champions on the last day.”
