Pirates coach explains Hotto, Lorch role
Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer has explained the decision behind starting Namibian international Deon Hotto and Thembinkosi Lorch on the bench against TS Galaxy.
The Buccaneers missed the chance to close the gap on second-place AmaZulu after suffering a 1-0 loss to Galaxy on Sunday afternoon.
“The problem is that you have the players ready and have the feeling or you get the information that the player’s muscle is tight or the conditioning is not enough for 90 minutes, then it’s better you bring fresh players,” the Pirates coach told SuperSport after the game.
“We have a good squad, we can change the squad but it’s always before the game or after the game you have more information but Hotto is always on the highest level, Lorch was not possible from the start, it was clear. But we need him and that was the reason for the substitute.
“But overall it was not enough, 10, 20 minutes in the first-half, it’s not enough you can win the game. We were not in a structure, we were not forward passing, it was about the reaction and it was not enough for a win. Yes, you get the chance for the equaliser but [if] you can’t score, you can’t win a game,” he continued.
“We need the three points, I know the players know what has happened, they know after the 90 minutes what’s happening [with regards to CAF spots on the log].
We have to focus, analyse this game quick and then we need the head up, we play against Baroka, it’s also a special game, we need the points if you want one of these places in the table, we need three points for this.”