Bucs, Chilli Boys will go toe to toe, says Micho

JOHANNESBURG: Milutin Sredojevic is confident that football will be the winner when his Orlando Pirates team play Chippa United in tonight’s Absa Premiership clash at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, with kickoff at 7:30 pm.

Such remarks are expected though, considering the amount of business that has been concluded between the two parties of late. During the pre-season, Paseka Mako, Linda Mntambo and Abel Mabaso made the switch to Johannesburg while Thamsanqa Sangweni was the only player that moved to Port Elizabeth after Thabo Matlaba and Bernard Morrison’s deals didn’t materialise.

“Personally, I believe that whoever comes to Nelson Monday Bay Stadium will enjoy good football,’’ Sredojevic said. “This is because I think that it is always easier to play against a team like us that plays the ball on the ground instead of long ball that involves a lot of throw-ins. We believe that against Chippa United we will have an open game, knowing the mind-set of the coach (Dan Malesela) and the game-model that they are playing.”

He went on: “This will be a game where two boxers will be not hiding or having a guard but they’ll be punching each other, and they’ll let us enjoy football because it will be the winner.’’

With ‘Micho’s’ preference being an on-the-ground ball game, it was confusing they signed new wingers Mako, Mabaso, Kudakwashe Mahachi and Vincent Pule while they already had Thembinkosi Lorch, Thabo Qalinge and Luvuyo Memela.

When asked what use they will be the Serbian coach explained: “All our attacking midfield players have an initial role of being the first line of defence. This pushes the opponent to play in long passes. From that, we get an advantage and then build-up from Happy Jele, Gladwin Shitolo, Xola Mlambo and Musa Nyatama. Then their important role is to help us in attack, either they open wide or cut to position the number 10. There are two steps: help us to enter the attack and control it. Being an automatism from an attacking role is a process.’’

The signing of goalkeeper coach Andrew Sparkes from English side Swansea City youth structures was well received by the Buccaneers considering that they didn’t have a regular number one last term. The Sea Robbers also went as far as France to lure Specialist Coach of Finishing Stephane Adam. Adam was on the books of French outfit Lille. @Mihlalibaleka