Micho has big plans for Bucs
JOHANNESBURG: At the heart of the bigger picture that Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic is painstakingly putting together piece-by-piece at Orlando Pirates is the desire to help the Buccaneers conquer the continent again.
The Serbian, with his vast coaching experience in Africa, has big dreams for the Soweto giants. Despite falling short of their targets in the PSL after 10 matches, Pirates have shown signs of improvement.
“I will tell you what is the bigger picture, or the roof as I call it,” Sredojevic said. “When you see the Orlando Pirates badge, there is one star on top of it (for winning the 1995 African Cup of Champions Clubs, now called the Caf Champions League). My dream is to bring a second star. The bigger picture also includes playing an exciting brand of football that will bring our supporters back to Orlando Stadium to enjoy and be proud of the team that they are supporting.”
Winning the Champions League isn’t something that’s going to happen this year or the following one. Pirates have to first qualify for the 2019 edition. The club’s immediate focus is the Telkom Knockout which gives them an opportunity to bring a trophy to the cabinet for the first time in three years. But Pirates have to first get past Polokwane City tomorrow at home in the quarter-finals.
Pirates’ leftback Innocent Maela will be assessed today if he can play after limping off the pitch on Wednesday in the 3-1 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns. Sredojevic’s choice of goalkeeper is also important. Wayne Sandilands’ confidence took a knock with how he was beaten by his former team. Dropping him would hit him hard even though the club looked to have picked Jackson Mabokgwane as their Cup goalkeeper.