Fans blame 2-1 loss to Bidvest on Bucs keeper
AS Orlando Pirates supporters walked out the Bidvest Stadium after their team was beaten 2-1 on Saturday, the name of Felipe Ovono was on many of their lips.
One disgruntled fan even imitated Ovono, showing his friends how the Bucs goalkeeper failed to handle the ball, which led to Bidvest Wits’ winning goal in the MTN8 quarterfinal clash.
Second choice Jackson Mabokgwane sat on the bench while last season’s number one goalkeeper, Brighton Mhlongo, watched from the stands as Ovono put on a show that would easily make it onto America’s Funniest Home Videos – if he was in that part of the world.
Despite his goalkeeper’s awful performance, Pirates coach Muhsin Ertugral chose to blame himself for making the decision to play Ovono again.
Ovono also made a handling error in Pirates’ 3-1 victory over Golden Arrow in the league last week.
“You will understand we will not talk about that publicly. I took that decision and I will have to take the blame. It was an unfortunate situation.
“I think he was not concentrating on the second goal. It dropped out of his hand, but these things happen.
“We cannot point fingers,” Ertugral said. He could not say if Ovono would start Pirates’ next match.
“We will think about that. We need to see what situation he is in and how he is feeling.
“Obviously that’s a challenge, because at Pirates you are always under the microscope. We will see.”
Pirates struggled to deal with the crosses and long balls that Wits kept pumping into the box and as a result conceded more than 15 corners.
Ertugral has to get that defence right because they were fortunate not to concede more than the two goals they let in.
“It’s not only our goalkeeper. We have clear organisation forms, but being afraid comes in one against one situations instead of closing in certain zones.
“The defensive line was a bit problematic. They made so many fouls in areas where they played into their hands.
“I stopped counting the corner kicks at 13.”