Title still in Bucs' hands
ORLANDO Pirates coach Augusto Palacios says two draws in as many matches have not derailed the reigning Absa Premiership champions' aspirations of defending the title.
CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR: Orlando Pirates striker Ranti Tokelo goes past Bidvest Wits' Timothy Batabaire and Katlego Pule in their Premiership match at Orlando Stadium at the weekend. Photo: Gallo ImagesWe are accumulating points. We have our destiny firmly in our own hands. We don't care what happens with the other contenders. The most important thing is not to lose
Second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns' 1-0 defeat by Maritzburg United presented Pirates with a glorious chance to stretch their lead atop the table to four points. But The Buccaneers buckled under pressure and managed a drab goalless draw against Bidvest Wits at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night.
Coming on the back of the scoreless stalemate with Moroka Swallows, the two draws means Pirates have dropped four points and collected two from a possible six.
But Palacios is adamant that he has got the Pirate ship sailing towards their fourth championship since the inception of the PSL and points to the league table to augment his argument.
"We are still on top of the table, correct?" said Palacios. "We are accumulating points. We have our destiny firmly in our own hands. We don't care what happens with the other contenders. The most important thing is not to lose."
Palacios says Bucs will regain their scoring touch and return to winning ways. Their next two matches are on the road, first against Ajax Cape Town - who lost 2-1 to SuperSport United - at Athlone and then against Matsatsantsa in Polokwane next week Tuesday.
A home fixture against Bloem Celtic will be followed by a final match of the campaign away to Lamontville Golden Arrows.
Against Ajax on Friday night they will have to do without the services of Oupa Manyisa, who is suspended after picking his third yellow card.
"We have a difficult game coming up but I am not worried about Manyisa's suspension. We have 35 players. Our strength is in our depth. If a player doesn't perform I will put another one and it is a clear message. The message is clear and every member of the squad knows that," Palacios said.
He plans to focus a lot of energy on fine-tuning their finishing, in preparation for the Ajax match.
"We created several clear chances against Swallows but just couldn't get the ball in the net. Against Wits we played badly in the first half. After the break we put more pressure but Rudolf Bester, (Daine) Klaite and Terminator (Dikgang Mabalane) didn't convert the chances," he said.
Palacios likened his counterpart Roger de Sa's approach to the game to that of Jose Mourinho.
"He put nine players in the back. It reminded me of when Mourinho was coaching Chelsea. Roger came with a proper plan to stop us from playing by closing spaces on the wings and in the centre."
De Sa left Mbulelo Mabizela on the bench. "He is on two yellows and I didn't want to risk him getting a third and automatic suspension. We need him more for the next game against Celtic," he said.
Most Popular
-
No Viewed Articles yet
Comments
TupacAmaru
@Dead Chiefs"Death to my rivals, tell me what you want lord?
Nobody left after the death of a drug lord ( V.V)
The situation's critical
Nothin is colder - than hearing the ballad of a dead soldier"
Tupac Shakur -The Ballad Of a Dead Souljah
UP DA BUCS
Report Abuse
maneater
where is the kaizer chiefs report MR editor we want to comment on it!!!Report Abuse
Buc4life
maneaterwhere is the kaizer chiefs report MR editor we want to comment on it!!!
..........................................
Their report is on the Birds one.
Report Abuse
Buc4life
TupacAmaru@Dead Chiefs
"Death to my rivals, tell me what you want lord?
Nobody left after the death of a drug lord ( V.V)
The situation's critical
Nothin is colder - than hearing the ballad of a dead soldier"
Tupac Shakur -The Ballad Of a Dead Souljah
UP DA BUCS
.......................................
U know my champ. They are sliding down with each game they play. I think they made a terrible mistake of firing the coach, and they made it worse by hiring Doc & Ace. I dont think that these interim coaches know what they doing.
Report Abuse
dadaman1
I think we should have won this league by weekend already but seeing that the other pretender are fumbling i can only urge the PSL to realese the fixtures for next seaseon coz this one is done and dusted.....UP THE BUCS WAYAWAYA
Report Abuse
Buc4life
I think Wits came with a plan to frustrate us, and they did. Gone was that commitment we saw when we played against Swallows. I am happy that we are still no 1, and our opposition dropped maximum points, but we need to win our games. A 2- point gap is not enough. Tokelo cannot keep on missing scoring chances like this.Report Abuse
Mhungumbye
We played badly in indeed but we are accumulating points.Once again 1 point is better than nothing.
Report Abuse
Buc4life
dadaman1I think we should have won this league by weekend already but seeing that the other pretender are fumbling i can only urge the PSL to realese the fixtures for next seaseon coz this one is done and dusted.....
UP THE BUCS WAYAWAYA
..............................................
Morning my champ. we have to win our remaining games though. A 2 point lead is not enough.
Report Abuse
Rattex_the_rat_killer
Rats, the league is in your hands. The only team who can threaten you is SSU.Report Abuse
Buc4life
Rattex_the_rat_killerRats, the league is in your hands. The only team who can threaten you is SSU.
.............................................................
Hello Rattex. Have u written yourselves off already?
Report Abuse
Read all 314 comments