Bucs back keeper after gift goal to Highlands
Orlando Pirates rallied around Wayne Sandilands in the dressing room at the break after the goalkeeper’s blunder in their 11 Absa Premiership draw against Highlands Park at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night‚ coach Milutin Sredojevic said.
Sandilands‚ received a backpass from Gladwin Shitolo in the 15th minute to his right foot and, as he attempted to pass it out with his left‚ the ball sneaked under the keeper and into goal.
Pirates’ Justin Shonga equalised in the 61st minute‚ but the blunder was the last thing Sandilands needed, playing just his second league game since fumbling in Hlompho Kekana’s shot from Mamelodi Sundowns’ half at the same ground in November.
It also got the home crowd on Sandilands’s back.
“The first thing we did in the dressing room was that we requested that the team stands behind Wayne Sandilands.
“The players stood firmly behind him‚ in order to protect him‚” Sredojevic said.
“It is not easy to come in this position‚ and I don’t wish it on my biggest enemy.
“And I need to inform you that Wayne has worked very hard‚ but football is such a game that these things happen.”
Meanwhile, Benni McCarthy’s first reaction was one of relief, as his Cape Town City team kicked off the new season with a 2-0 home victory over SuperSport United at the weekend.
The victory gave City a boost of confidence ahead of their clash with Baroka FC in midweek and to Maritzburg United for next weekend’s MTN8 quarterfinals.
A cracking half volley from Roland Putsche put City ahead after 55 minutes and before substitute Craig Martin made it 2-0 midway through the second half.
“We started off a little bit slow‚ more than I expected,” McCarthy said. “We need to see out a game properly.
“It’s a long season and this is just the first one, but an important one because we had targeted this to get off to a good start,” the coach said.
‘The first thing we did in the dressing room was that we requested that the team stands behind Wayne Sandilands’ Milutin Sredojevic
ORLANDO PIRATES COACH