Pirates’ unity the key
IMPRESSED: SENIOR MEMBERS’ ATTITUDE EXCITES COACH TINKLER
Orlando Pirates need a win or a draw with less than two goals to advance to Confederation Cup play-offs.
Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler is confident that the club’s fighting spirit will propel them to the Caf Confederation Cup play-offs by overcoming CF Mounana of Gabon tonight at Orlando Stadium.
The Buccaneers came from 2-0 down, to draw 2-2 in the first leg of the tournament’s second round in Gabon. In their last match at home, Pirates came back from a goal down to thrash SuperSport United 4-1.
“I think it’s the unity that we have in the team that has given us this great fighting spirit,” Tinkler said. “If we go all the way back to Senzo (Meyiwa’s) passing, what was important is that we stuck together and worked hard together. We had a lot of belief in one another and supported each other. That has played a principled role.
“I looked at Happy Jele, he must feel like a yo-yo. One day he is playing right-back, the next day he is at centre-back and he is back to right-back. But his professionalism has been phenomenonal and that rubs off on the younger guys.
“When they roll up their sleeves and put in the performances, the younger and inexperienced guys follow. That’s been vitally important for us.”
The Buccaneers need a win or a draw with less than two goals to reach the play-offs where they will play against clubs who were eliminated from the Caf Champions League second round. The draw for the play-offs will be conducted on Tuesday for the two legged ties to be played on the weekends of May 15-17 and June 5-7. The group stages start on June 26-28, which means Pirates could have a short break if they make the last-eight.
“Mounana are physically strong and played with two strikers against us with a big number nine,” Tinkler said. “Because of the tall strikers they have, it is vitally important that you don’t allow crosses into the box.
“I have spoken with the players that we might not have an off-season. The Champions League was different because we had a small break but there isn’t much break in the Confederation Cup. What’s important for me now, is how much rest I give the players.”