Ndengane is a player who ‘always gives 200 percent’

ORLAND PIRATES coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic came to the defence of defender Alfred Ndengane after his costly mistakes in their 2-2 draw with FC Platinum in the penultimate round of the Caf Champions League group stage matches. Ndengane, who’s part of the team’s preferred centre-back-pairing with captain Happy Jele, conceded a penalty that goalie Wayne Sandilands saved, while his deflection gifted the Zimbabweans the lead soon after.

“Alfred Ndengane is a great gentleman, and a player that always gives 200 percent,” Sredojevic said. “Having in mind his experience, we thought that he was needed until the end of the game despite the costly mistakes – penalty and goal. However, it’s easy to throw the players under the bus but it’s also important to tell him that, ‘it has happened and let’s be a team, because all of us are behind you, and don’t think about what happened but pay us back by focusing and concentrating’. And I think he did that.”

The points dropped by Pirates at home left them third in Group B, trailing their next opponent Horoya Athletic Club by a point, while they are five adrift of leaders Esperance. Their next assignment against Horoya will test the Bucs’ character as they will need all three points in order to progress to the quarter-finals of the competition.

The Bucs will be looking to qualify for this stage of the Champions League for the first time since 2013 – when they lost to Al Ahly in the final – while their only previous success in the competition was in 1995. And, that feat 13 years ago, was propelled by none other than Sredojevic during his initial stint with the club. Hence, it’s a no-brainer that the Serbian is looking to achieve the same milestone.

“We wanted to have three points that would guarantee us that a draw will be enough there (against Horoya),” Sredojevic said.

“But at the same moment, it will be a Caf Champions League final for Orlando Pirates and we know what will take us through. We are looking to give our the best there, and we’ll fight to go to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.”

Pirates’ trip to West Africa won’t be easy though. The Guineans have been lethal in their own backyard. In their last 20 matches of continental football, they’ve won 14, while their last defeat was back in 2014. On the other hand, Pirates have been disappointing on the road in Africa, as they have only won seven of their last 20 matches, while recently suffering a 3-0 loss to Esperance in Tunisia.

Sredojevic, who has had stints in Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, is not fazed though – believing that they will have what it takes to get all three points and become the second PSL team to qualify for the knockout stages after Mamelodi Sundowns achieved that feat with a game to spare on Saturday night.

“As an optimist, person that believes, convener and coach of this club, (I say that) we need to be confident and believe that we have what it takes to give our best there and win,” Sredojevic said.