Africa wants to see Bucs, says coach

Tshepo Ntsoelengoe

Orlando Pirates coach Micho Sredojevic (right) says football fans around the African continent are hungry to see the Buccaneers competing in continental competitions and they will work very hard to ensure they do.

The 1995 African champions last competed in the continent in 2015 where they reached the Caf Confederation Cup final, but the team endured some tough times in the last two years which saw them fail to earn a Caf spot.

This season, however, Bucs have turned their fortunes around with the team second in the Premiership after 25 matches and they seem likely to finish within the top three in the league standings to earn a spot in Africa.

“We will do anything that is possible to qualify to play in the continental competition. I already told the players that Africa is hungry to see Orlando Pirates as a brand that is respected on the continent. So we shall work very hard in the last five matches and when it comes (playing in Africa) we shall plan accordingly,” said the Bucs mentor.

Sredojevic is proud to see the team doing well and says it was hard to see people mocking the club on social media last year.

“I still remember in July prior to coming here, there were so many jokes regarding Orlando Pirates on social media. We were a laughing stock and when you looked at it, it irritated us but provoked pride in all of us.”