BUBBLE BURST
Bucs finally win in biobubble
With top-scorer Gabadinho Mhango struggling to score of late, Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer is pleased that promising striker Zakhele Lepasa looks determined to step up to the plate.
While Mhango has been stagnant on 14 goals and misfiring since the resumption of the season, Lepasa, 23, reminded Zinnbauer he could count on him after coming off the bench to score the winner with his first touch in the 2-1 victory over SuperSport United at the weekend.
“Lepasa in the last few days at training was very hot and he definitely signalled he wants to come in. He can help us.
“For two weeks it was [Tshegofatso] Mabasa [who showed he wanted to step up],” a visibly relieved Zinnbauer said.
“This is what you need as a coach ... you bring players in, they give you this performance [like Lepasa did].”
Vincent Pule scored the opener and Wayne Sandilands saved two penalties, denying Bradley Grobler and Thamsanqa Gabuza, to ensure the Buccaneers snapped their six-game winless run in the league.
Before beating Matsatsantsa, who scored via Luke Fleurs, Pirates had last won a match in
February, beating Black Leopards by an own goal.
“Yes, we’re happy that we’ve finally won, but we know that the win is behind us now,” Zinnbauer said.
The German coach suggested they had played well in the past six games they didn’t win (two losses and four draws), before beating Matsatsantsa.
However, Zinnbauer understands it is meaningless to play football without winning.
“I know the previous results before this game were not good ... I told the players that it’s not important to play good football, we want the results,” the Pirates mentor said.
Zinnbauer also hinted going six games without a win almost killed their confidence: “When not winning, you can lose a little bit of self-confidence and that’s normal.”
In their penultimate fixture, Pirates face Maritzburg United at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday (6pm).