Bucs hunt for points up north
TOUGH: TRICKY ENCOUNTER AGAINST BATTLING LEOPARDS
Josef Zinnbauer has enjoyed quite a good spell since taking over at Orlando Pirates and never knew how it felt to be defeated in South Africa before their loss to Bidvest Wits in the Nedbank Cup last weekend.
The Buccaneers coach has another tough encounter ahead with his charges having to travel all the way to the north to face Black Leopards at the Thohoyandou Stadium tomorrow afternoon.
Ironically, Zinnbuaer introduced himself in the Absa Premiership during a clash with Lidoda Duvha just before the Christmas break last year – going on to win the tie 3-1 at the Orlando Stadium.
But this time, Pirates know that it is never easy playing the Venda-based side at home and says it will be quite difficult for his charges to play on the bumpy pitch.
“Playing Leopards is not easy, they have more self-confidence, it is back now. They have a new coach and play a different system. It’s not going to be easy, but most of the time we don’t get easy games.I know it’s Leopards and it’s going to be a difficult away game. It’s the field, it’s not 100 percent correct, it’s bumpy,” said the Bucs coach.
“We know their system and how they play. But it’s important that we play our system and have enough self-confidence when go to Leopards to fight for the three points.”
The German coach will go into this game on the back of being awarded the Coach-of-the-Month for January while his striker Gabadinho Mhango got the Playerof-the-Month award earlier this week at the PSL offices.
But to him, it’s all about going into the next game and getting maximum points.
He is just glad to have Mhango back from suspension after he missed the Wits game.
“I’m more happy that I’m getting him back and the first prize for me is top, it’s a great thing for me. But, now is time to focus for the next game against Leopards. Yes, getting the trophy is great for the work that we have done. Now the next step is that we need three points and that’s important for me.”
Bucs are second on the league table with 36 points after 20 games.
Lidoda Duvha are sitting in 14th place with 20 points from the same number of games and still in relegation danger.