Former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Williams Okpara praised current shot stopper Brighton Mhlongo for his heroics in the team's CAF Confederation Cup victory over Tunisian side CS Sfaxien in Sfax on Sunday.
Winger Thabo Rakhale scored a superb goal in the second half to seal a 1-0 win, but Mhlongo made sure of victory with some important saves as the Buccaneers doggedly held on for a crucial victory.
Pirates are in second place on six points in Group B after three matches and have a very good chance of progressing to the semifinals with their next two matches to be played at home. The team should return to Orlando Stadium after playing their home match against Zamalek, which ended in a 2-1 defeat at Mbombela Stadium earlier this month.
"The boy (Mhlongo) has kept us in the competition with his saves. He did it in Uganda, in Gabon and in Mali (against Uganda Revenue Authority, FC Mounana and AS Khaloum respectively).
"He is more relaxed and has gained confidence and experience. He is a fighter. We have to continue to encourage and praise him. There is more to come from him," said Okpara, who won the Champions League with Bucs in 1995.
Okpara added: "We scored first and maintained the game plan of attacking. There was unity and the will to represent South Africa. The team did well."
Rakhale won the ball in the opponents' half, made a run on the right flank before cleverly lobbing the Sfaxien goalkeeper for the game's only goal.
"It all happened very quickly," the 25-year-old dribbling wizard told the Pirates website after he scored his second goal in the Confederation Cup.
"I had an option to pass the ball across goal but there was a defender.
"At that moment I saw the keeper off his line and I decided to go for it and I'm glad I was able to pull it off.
"Sfaxien gave us a tough game. They came at us but we were up to the task."
Pirates host Sfaxien next weekend before their Absa Premiership campaign begins with a clash against SuperSport United at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Limpopo on August 11.
Okpara praises goalie's heroics
Former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Williams Okpara praised current shot stopper Brighton Mhlongo for his heroics in the team's CAF Confederation Cup victory over Tunisian side CS Sfaxien in Sfax on Sunday.
Winger Thabo Rakhale scored a superb goal in the second half to seal a 1-0 win, but Mhlongo made sure of victory with some important saves as the Buccaneers doggedly held on for a crucial victory.
Pirates are in second place on six points in Group B after three matches and have a very good chance of progressing to the semifinals with their next two matches to be played at home. The team should return to Orlando Stadium after playing their home match against Zamalek, which ended in a 2-1 defeat at Mbombela Stadium earlier this month.
"The boy (Mhlongo) has kept us in the competition with his saves. He did it in Uganda, in Gabon and in Mali (against Uganda Revenue Authority, FC Mounana and AS Khaloum respectively).
"He is more relaxed and has gained confidence and experience. He is a fighter. We have to continue to encourage and praise him. There is more to come from him," said Okpara, who won the Champions League with Bucs in 1995.
Okpara added: "We scored first and maintained the game plan of attacking. There was unity and the will to represent South Africa. The team did well."
Rakhale won the ball in the opponents' half, made a run on the right flank before cleverly lobbing the Sfaxien goalkeeper for the game's only goal.
"It all happened very quickly," the 25-year-old dribbling wizard told the Pirates website after he scored his second goal in the Confederation Cup.
"I had an option to pass the ball across goal but there was a defender.
"At that moment I saw the keeper off his line and I decided to go for it and I'm glad I was able to pull it off.
"Sfaxien gave us a tough game. They came at us but we were up to the task."
Pirates host Sfaxien next weekend before their Absa Premiership campaign begins with a clash against SuperSport United at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Limpopo on August 11.
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