It has been a good week for Orlando Pirates with two wins and a draw from three games where they have finally made a breakthrough into the top eight bracket on the log.
Following their 2-1 win over Chippa United at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night‚ the Buccaneers remain far from perfect as they can barely control a game for 90 minutes and concede in critical phases having done most of the hard work.
But coach Kjell Jonevret believes that slowly the building blocks are beginning to fall into place as Bucs try to finish as high in the Absa Premiership as they can in their commemorative 80th season.
Jonevret said after a 2-1 extra-time Nedbank Cup quarterfinal win against Bloemfontein Celtic‚ decidedly unconvincing 1-1 PSL draw against Baroka FC on Wednesday and then a decent enough win against Chippa‚ Pirates cannot be too hard on themselves.
"We were not too happy after the game on Wednesday. But we talked about it before this game that we should try to step up a bit‚ try to defend and be more aggressive. Because Chippa are a good football team‚" Jonevret said.
"And I think the first half was really good. We had a lot of chances. We could have scored‚ or maybe we should have scored‚ one or two more.
"But‚ if I can call it the critical phases‚ when we have 1-0 then we need to close it down a bit.
"And we can't open up and give them that goal - it was a silly one. And then it's a new game again in the second half.
"Because had we had 1-0 at half time they would probably have played a lot higher on us‚ and we would have had a lot more chances.
"But it's like this right now for us. Maybe in the best of worlds we should have closed this one with 2-0 or even 3-0. But they were close in the end.
"So it was a tough one again. But we won‚ and I think we deserved to.
"And we are in the toip eight‚ although there is still a lot of football.
"But in the end‚ we won‚ and it's a good week again‚ with two wins and a draw. So I mean‚ we can't be too sad. We have to be happy also‚ even if it was a little bit of a relief maybe when the referee blew the whistle.
"Now we're going play two games where it's going to be much tougher. But maybe nobody expects us to win against Wits away and Sundowns at home‚ and we like it like that also.
"But‚ I'm happy now. Top eight - that's good."
Pirates went to eighth place‚ on goal difference from Lamontville Golden Arrows‚ with their win against Chippa.
They meet third-placed Bidvest Wits at Bidvest Stadium on Thursday night‚ then host PSL leaders and defending champions Sundowns at Orlando on Sunday.
- TMG Digital/TMG Sport
Pirates coach believes building blocks beginning to fall into place
It has been a good week for Orlando Pirates with two wins and a draw from three games where they have finally made a breakthrough into the top eight bracket on the log.
Following their 2-1 win over Chippa United at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night‚ the Buccaneers remain far from perfect as they can barely control a game for 90 minutes and concede in critical phases having done most of the hard work.
But coach Kjell Jonevret believes that slowly the building blocks are beginning to fall into place as Bucs try to finish as high in the Absa Premiership as they can in their commemorative 80th season.
Jonevret said after a 2-1 extra-time Nedbank Cup quarterfinal win against Bloemfontein Celtic‚ decidedly unconvincing 1-1 PSL draw against Baroka FC on Wednesday and then a decent enough win against Chippa‚ Pirates cannot be too hard on themselves.
"We were not too happy after the game on Wednesday. But we talked about it before this game that we should try to step up a bit‚ try to defend and be more aggressive. Because Chippa are a good football team‚" Jonevret said.
"And I think the first half was really good. We had a lot of chances. We could have scored‚ or maybe we should have scored‚ one or two more.
"But‚ if I can call it the critical phases‚ when we have 1-0 then we need to close it down a bit.
"And we can't open up and give them that goal - it was a silly one. And then it's a new game again in the second half.
"Because had we had 1-0 at half time they would probably have played a lot higher on us‚ and we would have had a lot more chances.
"But it's like this right now for us. Maybe in the best of worlds we should have closed this one with 2-0 or even 3-0. But they were close in the end.
"So it was a tough one again. But we won‚ and I think we deserved to.
"And we are in the toip eight‚ although there is still a lot of football.
"But in the end‚ we won‚ and it's a good week again‚ with two wins and a draw. So I mean‚ we can't be too sad. We have to be happy also‚ even if it was a little bit of a relief maybe when the referee blew the whistle.
"Now we're going play two games where it's going to be much tougher. But maybe nobody expects us to win against Wits away and Sundowns at home‚ and we like it like that also.
"But‚ I'm happy now. Top eight - that's good."
Pirates went to eighth place‚ on goal difference from Lamontville Golden Arrows‚ with their win against Chippa.
They meet third-placed Bidvest Wits at Bidvest Stadium on Thursday night‚ then host PSL leaders and defending champions Sundowns at Orlando on Sunday.
- TMG Digital/TMG Sport
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos