Micho’s plotting for next season
PIRATES COACH: WE PROMISE FIERCER COMPETITION
Sredojevic offers his congratulations to Pitso and Sundowns.
Orlando Pirates head coach Milutin Sredojevic has vowed to give Mamelodi Sundowns an even better fight for the Absa Premiership title next season.
Bucs ran Masandawana all the way to the penultimate game of the season, but on Saturday they were beaten at a familiar venue, losing 1-0 at Cape Town City. Pirates have now lost three times at Cape Town Stadium in 2018, amazingly the only away venue this year at which they have been defeated.
Even if Pirates had won on Saturday, however, they would have lost out on the title, with Sundowns beating Ajax Cape Town in Atteridgeville.
“I would … like to be a gentleman, we have been in a process of rebuilding, next year we need to promise them (Sundowns) much more fierce competition,” Sredojevic told SuperSport TV after the match.
“For the biggest part of the season they have been on top. To my colleague Pitso (Mosimane), all their players and management, we tried our best, but as part of sportsmanship, congratulations. Both teams will represent the country next year in the Champions League.”
It was Ayanda Patosi who was again decisive in Saturday’s match for Cape Town City, as he had been in the Nedbank Cup last-16 game between the two sides in March.
After Pirates had a decent early claim for a penalty for handball against Tariq Fielies turned down, Patosi rifled in a rocket in the 35th minute, and the Buccaneers could not find a way back, though Thabo Qalinge was unlucky when his second-half volley hit the post.
City coach Benni McCarthy meanwhile, was pleased with his team, and the way they played in their final home game of the season.
“I am just delighted with the effort the players had given … they wanted to give a good send-off,” McCarthy told SuperSport TV.
“Unfortunately for Pirates it was too little, too late, but they made a wonderful push for the league, and congratulations to Sundowns for becoming league champions.”