‘MICHO’ MUM ABOUT SUNDOWNS
Pirates head to Pretoria unbeaten in 10 matches, and with Shonga back on target
ORLANDO Pirates might be high on confidence after bagging all the spoils against Polokwane City at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday night; however coach Micho Sredojevic refused to get carried away ahead of their next encounter.
Pirates’ next assignment will be away to Absa Premiership title holders Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday (3:30pm). Although both have had unconvincing starts to the campaign, the Soweto giants have made the most of their recent chances as they sit at the summit of the log standings with 22 points after 12 matches. Sundowns are sixth with 14 and trail the pacesetters by four games.
“First of all, we are far from being a well -oiled machine,” Sredojevic said after their 2-1 victory over Rise and Shine. “We have a huge space for improvement and development. (As a result) we shall not comment anything about anyone in front (Sundowns). We shall now collect the situation of injuries and focus on the things in the team because we had two tough away matches. After that we’ll then think ahead of us.”
For the first time since the 2014/2015 season, the Bucs have gone 10 matches unbeaten. They make the trip to the nation’s capital having won their last four matches; scoring eight goals while conceding three. Striker Justin Shonga also heads to Loftus high on confidence after getting the monkey off his back with a sublime free-kick on Tuesday. While he was on form for Chipolopolo during the recent Afcon qualifiers, the last time he scored for the Sea Robbers was in their season opener against Highlands Park on August 4.
“(With all due) respect to the people that think our players are machines, (but) I want to tell them that they are also human beings with senses, feelings and emotions,” Sredojevic explained. “As such, it was not pleasant to look at Justin Shonga missing that penalty and chances (in the derby) and immediately branded in a way to kill his confidence. We, as the technical and his teammates, have confidence and belief in him. In the last three matches he’s had three assists and a goal. We are hoping his confidence continues to grow.”
The last time Loftus hosted Sundowns and Pirates, the Bucs won 3-1, as they avenged their
6-0 hammering from the previous campaign. Goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane was nominated as the best man on the day as he kept Sundowns’ attack at bay.
However, Siyabonga Mpontshane has been the entrusted shotstopper for main events this season. Mpontshane started ahead of Mabokgwane in their 2-1 win in the derby - two weeks back - while the latter had made two successive appearances prior to that clash.
“In the game, we have one goalkeeper physically but four spiritually,” Sredojevic said on the notion that Mpontshane might return between the sticks against Sundowns as Mabokgwane started on Tuesday. “It’s a pride that we are feeling at Orlando Pirates that four goalkeepers are like brothers, together with their coach Andrew Sparkes. We are really happy to have them around.”