Black-and-whites chase a colourful future

There could be a light at the end of the tunnel for Orlando Pirates’ long-suffering supporters if what club chairman Irvin Khoza said this week is anything to go by.

While unveiling Milutin Sredojevic as new coach – which was merely 24 hours after Kjell Jonevret’s resignation – Khoza said things which, when taken at face value, suggested he had been listening to fans’ complaints.

The first thing that caught my attention was that Khoza admitted they should have done an overhaul of the team after two disastrous Absa Premiership campaigns. Pirates have finished the past two seasons without a trophy – shameful for a team of such magnitude and history.

The supporters have always complained that some of the players in the team had served their time and should be allowed to seek new challenges elsewhere. One of those was Oupa Manyisa and Khoza shocked many when he revealed he had been sold to Mamelodi Sundowns.

The fans applauded the move as they felt Manyisa had served his time with the Buccaneers and there was nothing new or better he was going to offer going forward. I also think the move could be great for Manyisa as new surroundings could revive him.

Khoza said they would be announcing players who would be put on transfer soon and that is @SbongsKaDonga one of the things I think needed to happen. The team needs players who are willing to fight, not those who feel their reputations should do all the talking for them.

Another statement from Khoza was that he would also be revamping the entire technical and management teams. There have been accusations from fans directed at individuals in management and in the technical team.

Complaints of interference and the player recruitment have surfaced time and again at Bucs, but Khoza seemed to have turned a deaf ear to them.

“As we rebuild we are making sure we can correct some of the issues we had around the technical team,” said Khoza. This is an indication that Khoza has after all been listening to the supporters, as petty as their complaints may seem sometimes.

The one thing I hope Khoza will reintroduce as he sets out to rebuild the team is respect. From the messages we get from previous coaches and former players there is a lack of respect at Pirates.

I don’t mean respect for the badge by players. I mean respect for each other’s job. The coach has to respect the players, the management, the fans and his own position. The management has to respect and trust the coach and players’ jobs and abilities. That is the only recipe that can bring back some glory at Mayfair.

After last season’s disaster, there were wide raging complaints that the players in the team have no idea how lucky they are to don the famous black and white of the Buccaneers. This may be true. But monkey see, monkey do. They must have seen it from someone.

Micho also spoke sense. He sounded grounded enough to know that the task ahead is not child’s play.