Coach: Buccaneers ready to fight to appease long-suffering supporters
A WEEK or so after whetting the appetite of starved Orlando Pirates fans in the build-up to the 2018/19 season, coach Micho Sredojevic was at it again yesterday at the club’s training base.
This time the Serbian threw down the gauntlet, saying he was well aware of the “high expectations” from supporters and that the Buccaneers are ready for a fight.
Sredojevic, now in his second season with the club following a successful maiden one in which he arrived on the eve of that particular campaign and preached a message of rebuilding as well as lifting the morale, was relaxed.
Now and again the coach talked briefly about what he has done in the last 18 years on the continent – this being some measure of proof that if there is anyone who can help Pirates win a trophy for the first time in four years, it’s him and his backroom staff, which has been boosted on several occasions during pre-season with a team of specialists.
“We are controlling the happiness index, and we are trend setters,” said Sredojevic, speaking ahead of their Absa Premiership opener at home to newly promoted Highlands Park on Saturday.
“We have tried to squeeze the best out of these players last season. If we want them to do better, we have to lift their tactical ability by bringing all these people who have this ability (backroom staff).
“We took the bold step to take care of this fitness and mental aspect of their game as the next step. We are writing a document. We are stretching ourselves, and in the end we want to look ourselves in the mirror and say we have given it our best in all five competitions that we are in.”
Pirates finished runners up to Mamelodi Sundowns last season, running them close until the final weeks of that Premier League campaign. Throughout, Sredojevic maintained that his target was only to qualify for the Caf Champions League, meaning to finish second, which they did. So now what? “I am fully aware that I am carrying the dreams of millions. In the last 18 years in the continent there have been huge demands on me. Once you are used to that, you lose the sense of pressure.
“I am fully aware of the expectations but I am really enjoying working here. There are top quality players and great people. We are not hiding from pressure.”
Speaking of “top quality players”, the Buccaneers have made a few more signings, while offloading others and still to confirm the departure of a few more by the end of the transfer window on August 31.
The most notable of the new arrivals are goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo, and midfielders Vincent Pule and Kudakwashe Mahachi, while Pirates have also brought in a finishing specialist in Frenchman Stephane Adam, announced yesterday.