Orlando Pirates’ 2010/2011 season preparations have kicked off in earnest with the Buccaneers registering a comfortable 6-0 victory over Africa Future Stars in a practice match on Saturday.

Although the score was insignificant in a game of this nature, Bucs coach Rudolf Krol couldn’t have asked for a more solid performance from his side.

New signing Patrick Malokase starred for the home side with goals on either side of the half (30th and 50th minute), while the other goal scorers were Ndumiso Mabena, Dikgang Mabalane, Joseph Makhanya and a trialist.

Contrary to the result, the first half was little unattractive as the Buccaneers managed just two goals. But they came back with firepower in the second half scoring an avalanche of goals.

The opening minutes of the game belonged to the visitors as they looked for the first goal however, their more experienced opponents thwarted any danger with relative ease. But whenever they managed to get an opportunity to shoot on goal – Bucs goal keeper, Senzo Meyiwa was on hand to deny them the opener.

Not to be outdone by their lesser opponents, Orlando Pirates started to string a number of passes around and began making headway into the opposition box. It took only 20 minutes for Krol’s men to break the deadlock from the boot of Ndumiso Mabena who – after receiving a pin-point cross from Teko Modise, headed the ball into the back of the net.

Future Stars almost equalised minutes later when their midfielder unleashed a ferocious strike from the edge of the box which struck the upright with Senzo Meyiwa well beaten.

The game was virtually all Pirates thereafter with the Buccaneers dominating in every department.

Tlou Segolela was in mesmerizing form playing on the left flank and almost made it 2-0 in the 25th minute when he unleashed a goal-bound shot which was tipped over the bar by the keeper. However, there was little the keeper could do five minutes later to prevent the second goal. Modise, who was calling the shots from the centre of the park, dribbled past two opponents before laying the ball off to Dennis Masina who set up Malokase for a easy tap in.

Second Half

Barely five minutes into the second half, Malokase collected the ball from the centre half...ran towards goal and unleashed a thunderbolt strike 30 meters out to put Bucs 3-0 up.

Krol rang some changes to his team soon after the goal by bringing on Daine Klate, Dikgang Mabalane, Clifford Ngobeni and Katlego Mashego amongst others for the likes of Tlou Segolela, Ndumiso Mabena and Lebogang Mothibantwa.

It didn’t take Klate long to make an impact in the game. This after the nippy left winger – after receiving a pass from Ngobeni, whizzed down the left flank before playing the ball across goal for the onrushing Mabalane who unleashed a grass-cutter shot to beat the keeper in the near post.

The Sea Robbers added two more goals through Joseph ‘Duku-Duku’ Makhanya and one from a Nigerian trialist to complete the demolition job – over a team mainly consisting of players from Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria.