Orlando Pirates got their Absa Premiership season back on track with a well earned 3-1 win over hard-running Bloemfontein Celtic at the Orlando Stadium on Sunday, but coach Ruud Krol is still not satisfied.
The win ends a run of seven matches without a win for Bucs and despite this being their best win since they clobbered bottom club Jomo Cosmos 4-1 at the same venue earlier this season, Krol said Bucs still had a way to go.
When asked if the win would see Bucs turn the corner after a mini slump in which they collected three points from a possible 21, the former Dutch skipper said: ”We are not home and dry yet. There is still a lot of work to do. This was a good win but we cannot get carried away.”
What the match showed to Krol and Pirates fans was that there is life without Teko Modise. Krol finally benched his over worked midfield maestro and used newcomer Phenyo Mongalo on the left side of the midfield.
The move worked a treat with the Botswana international setting up Katlego Mashego for his second and Bucs’ third goal in the 74th minute.
Said Krol: ”When a player is not performing, the coach has to make changes and that is what I did and I am happy with the outcome.”
Modise has had a dreadful spell at both club ad Bafana Bafana level due to the fact he has played too many matches for club and country, and is suffering from fatigue.
But the rest on Sunday will have done him a power of good. He has been selected for the two upcoming friendly matches against Japan in Port Elizabeth on Saturday and Jamaica next Tuesday night in Bloemfontein.
But new Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira might decide to extend Modise’s break.
However, Krol gave a strange explanation when asked about goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs and captain Lucky Lekgwathi getting into a pushing and shoving match in the final 10 minutes.
The two players were seen arguing and said Krol: ”I instructed the captain I wanted four players in the midfield and maybe my instructions were not understood.”
However, Krol praised Josephs — also part of the Bafana squad for the two friendly matches — who had an outstanding match.
Mashego scored twice with Lucas Thwala getting the other, while former Bucs starlet Excellent Walaza, scored for Phunya Sele-Sele.
Celtic coach Owen da Gama admitted his defence let him down and said he was hoping to buy a couple of quality defenders in the January transfer window.
Said Da Gama: ”We are scoring plenty of goals, but the problem is that we are conceding as many as we score.
”We conceded three in a draw against Cosmos and that tells you how bad the situation is. I have my eye on a couple of players I want to bring in to strengthen the defence and once we do that then we will be well on track.”
”But I am only the coach and must discuss any moves with management.”
Da Gama said the defeat against his former club was not a train smash. ”I am in a building process.
”Last season my job was to save the club from relegation and I achieved that. This season my target is a top eight finish and once
I beef up the defence I will achieve that goal.
”Then next season we can think about winning trophies.”
In Sunday’s other fixture second placed Ajax Cape Town kept up the challenge at the top of the Premiership with a 2-1 away win over struggling Mpumalanga Black Aces. — Sapa