ORLANDO Pirates coach Roger de Sa says he is still getting to know his new players but is happy with a large squad because of the commitments that will likely mount up for the club as the season progresses.
De Sa has been in charge of the Buccaneers for just three matches and made changes to the starting line-up and tactics in each of them.
"I'm still getting to know the players. Some have been very impressive, some disappointing, but every day that I work with the squad I hope I learn more."
De Sa says he is happy with working with a 30-man squad - 27 outfield players and three goalkeepers. It is a smaller squad than Pirates have had in the past but still a large group to work with.
"I'm happy with the numbers because we are trying to be competitive in African competition next season, and with the difficulty of releasing players for the Champions League, it is good that we are already prepared now with the squad we will take into next year's Champions League."
Pirates will participate in Africa's top club competition next year for a South African record ninth time, still seeking to emulate their success in 1995.
Chairman Irvin Khoza made winning the Champions League a priority for this year but Bucs were embarrassingly bundled out at the first stage of the competition by Angola's Recreativo Libolo.
Among the changes tried by De Sa so far has been to put former Nigeria international Onyekachi Okonkwo, a previous winner of the Champions League, in the heart of midfield. "He did well against Celtic," said De Sa, "but there are others who can do the same job."