It was a moral and tactical victory for Orlando Pirates coach Ruud Krol when his injury-hit Buccaneers held big-spending Mamelodi Sundowns to a hard-fought 0-0 Absa Premiership draw played at a packed Super Stadium in Atteridgeville on Wednesday night.
For once the former Dutch captain was smiling happily after the match and said: ”It was a tight game between two good sides. I am more than happy to come away from here with a point.
”It was an important point that we earned considering we had a number of key players injured and I had to make a couple of changes from the team that beat Thanda Royal Zulu 4-2 in Soweto [last Saturday].”
Krol was minus left back Innocent Mdledle, midfielder Dikgang Mabalane and suspended right back Rooi Mahamutsa. And, to add to his worries ahead of Saturday’s Telkom Knockout semifinal showdown against Bloemfontein Celtic at Durban’s Chatsworth Stadium (8.15pm), was the injury to another key midfielder, Thulasizwe Mbuyane, who hobbled off in the 19th minute.
The former Netherlands star said he would assess the injuries on Thursday after training.
Said Krol: ”I am not even thinking about the cup semifinal. I will start thinking about that game on Thursday. All my focus and that of the players was on getting a result at Sundowns and we succeeded. I am well pleased with the way the players dug in and fought hard and showed great character. It was a hard, well-earned draw.”
Sundowns’ new coach, Henry Michel, is finding life in the Premier Soccer League tougher that he possibly expected.
But he said: ”I was happy with our performance. We also have a lot of players missing through injury. But I was disappointed at the result. I thought we should have won the game.”
He said he was concerned by the way his strikers missed chances and was looking forward to the return, from a long-term injury, of veteran Bafana Bafana striker Sibusiso Zuma.
Zuma, the most expensive player in the Absa Premiership, who is reputed to earn R200 000 per month, is expected to be back in action within a week after missing most of the season with injury after joining Downs from Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld in the off-season.
Said Michel: ”I know of Zuma’s quality. I am looking forward to having him back in the squad.”
But, on the night, Michel said Sundowns were never in any danger of losing: ”Had we taken out chances we would have got the three points I thought we deserved.”
He has collected only five points from his three games in charge and admits that it is not good enough. But he said: ”I accept that five points from three games is not enough. But we are making progress and we will win a lot more games this season. I am confident this team will go from strength to strength.
”This was a tough game but showed me we are on the right track and once all our injured players are back fit then I am confident we will start getting more and more success.”
But the match was soured for Downs when their fullback, Siboniso Gaxa, was sent off by referee Peter Mabuza in the 90th minute for a second bookable offence. Gaxa and man of the match Robyn Johannes were both outstanding for the home side.
In other games played on Wednesday night, Swallows beat AmaZulu 2-1, Chiefs beat Golden Arrows 1-0, Ajax Cape Town beat Wits 2-1, and Platinum Stars and Free State Stars played to a 0-0 draw.– Sapa