Past doesn’t count at Pirates
The Buccaneers are cruising again thanks to coach Milutin Sredojevich who has told benched one-time regulars that he will not pick players on reputation
By Mark Gleeson
Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevich has warned that he will not pick players by reputation and those long-time regulars who have fallen out of favour must prove their ability if they are to win back their places. The Serbian coach has engineered a remarkable recovery for the Buccaneers after joining them at the start of the season. They were 11th in the last campaign in their worst finish in 30 years, but are now just a single point behind Mamelodi Sundowns in the race for the Absa Premiership, albeit having played one match more. Much of the transition has resulted from more structure to their game and an attention to detail that was missing last season under Swedish coach Kjell Jonevret. Among the overhauls by the new coach has been the axing from the starting line-up of previous stalwarts like captain Thabo Matlaba, Thamsanqa Gabuza, Mpho Makola, Abubbakar Mobara, Thamsanqa Sangweni and Issa Sarr, and sending the likes of Ayanda Gcaba and Thabo Rakhale out on loan. Instead a young crop has come through to forge regular places like flying full-backs Innocent Maela and Mthokozisi Dube and the Zambian Justin Shonga, who is now leading the attack. “It shows that we are doing things on merit,” said Sredojevich as Pirates began a two-week hiatus before their next match against Bloemfontein Celtic on 3 April. “Those senior players are extremely respected due to the fact that they have won trophies and have the experience of the past to help us regain that winning touch. “They are always in contention and when the time comes that they deserve to be back in the side, they will get a chance, but we have certain criteria and standards that we are looking at first. “The name of the player is not important. It is the badge and the jersey that are important and the team takes priority. This is what we are exclusively looking at.” The likes of Gabuza, Makola and Matlaba did themselves no favours in Pirates’ last game on Saturday, when they were brought on to close down the match in the final 10 minutes after the Sea Robbers had gone 2-0 ahead away against 10man Lamontville Golden Arrows. But instead of managing the remaining time, they allowed Arrows to pull a goal back, which ensured a nervy finish with Pirates eventually scraping home.