LENNOX Bacela and trialist Letsie Koapeng scored as Orlando Pirates defeated the Nedbank Ke Yona Team 2-0 in their exhibition fixture at Orlando Stadium yesterday.
The match pitted the Nedbank Cup champions against a team of amateur players drawn from across the country. Bucs coach Vladimir Vermezovic used the encounter to see a number of his fringe players in action.
The Ke Yona Team acquitted themselves well against their much more illustrious opposition.
Vermezovic offered starts to players returning from injury - Lehlohonolo Masalesa and Tlou Segolela - while there were also chances for the likes of Bacela, Gladwin Shitolo, Patrick Phungwayo and Thamsanqa Gabuza to stake a claim for competitive action.
The Ke Yona Team selection were not total unknowns. Maphosa Modiba, who signed for Mpumalanga Black Aces recently, was part of the Amajita squad that qualified for the African Youth Championships. Also starting was Morgan van Rooyen, who has been snapped up by Maritzburg United.
Not surprisingly, it was Pirates who created the better opportunities, but found a very able opponent in Ke Yona Team. Goalkeeper Luthando Sixhaso made a number of top saves. He had frustrated Pirates for the entire first half until the Buccaneers finally broke the deadlock two minutes into injury time. Kamohelo Mabuya smashed a thunderous drive against the post and Bacela was on hand with a tap-in to give his side the lead.
Bacela might have had a second not long after halftime when he brilliantly created space for himself on the edge of the box, but Sixhaso got down low to thwart him again.
Pirates gave a run to Koapeng, last with Bidvest Wits, for the final 10 minutes, and after his goal deep into injury time crossed his arms to signal to the crowd he has hopes of becoming a Buccaneer.
No walk in the park for Bucs against Ke Yona
LENNOX Bacela and trialist Letsie Koapeng scored as Orlando Pirates defeated the Nedbank Ke Yona Team 2-0 in their exhibition fixture at Orlando Stadium yesterday.
The match pitted the Nedbank Cup champions against a team of amateur players drawn from across the country. Bucs coach Vladimir Vermezovic used the encounter to see a number of his fringe players in action.
The Ke Yona Team acquitted themselves well against their much more illustrious opposition.
Vermezovic offered starts to players returning from injury - Lehlohonolo Masalesa and Tlou Segolela - while there were also chances for the likes of Bacela, Gladwin Shitolo, Patrick Phungwayo and Thamsanqa Gabuza to stake a claim for competitive action.
The Ke Yona Team selection were not total unknowns. Maphosa Modiba, who signed for Mpumalanga Black Aces recently, was part of the Amajita squad that qualified for the African Youth Championships. Also starting was Morgan van Rooyen, who has been snapped up by Maritzburg United.
Not surprisingly, it was Pirates who created the better opportunities, but found a very able opponent in Ke Yona Team. Goalkeeper Luthando Sixhaso made a number of top saves. He had frustrated Pirates for the entire first half until the Buccaneers finally broke the deadlock two minutes into injury time. Kamohelo Mabuya smashed a thunderous drive against the post and Bacela was on hand with a tap-in to give his side the lead.
Bacela might have had a second not long after halftime when he brilliantly created space for himself on the edge of the box, but Sixhaso got down low to thwart him again.
Pirates gave a run to Koapeng, last with Bidvest Wits, for the final 10 minutes, and after his goal deep into injury time crossed his arms to signal to the crowd he has hopes of becoming a Buccaneer.
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