Buccaneers slip up again

The fact that Orlando Pirates failed to hold on to a lead and had their defence breached once again, suggests the team’s new coach Josef Zinnbauer still has a lot to work on in the Bucs’ revival project.

From the early signs in Pirates’ game against Bloemfontein Celtic at the Dr Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein yesterday it seemed as if a second successive victory was on the cards for the German tactician.

The initial argument was that Zinnbauer had implemented little, if any, changes when he assumed the reins last month from caretaker coach Rhulani Mokwena, who was conspicuous by his absence from the bench.

But yesterday some new signs were apparent in Pirates’ game plan. Just like on his debut in the dugout against Black Leopards last month, Zinnbauer seemed to follow the conventional formula – that the best form of defence is attack.

This was evident in how the Buccaneers took the game to their gutsy opponents from the first whistle although Celtic had strong responses of their own.

Pirates initiated their buildups through the fullbacks, especially on the left where Innocent Maela’s powerful surges complemented the team’s hard runners in the striker force.

Again, Gabadinho Mhango underlined his qualities coming form deeper positions when he netted the goal that stunned his former club in the opening quarter of the game.

The 27-year-old finished off a move that involved Maela and Vincent Pule when he banged his seventh league goal of the season.

The Malawian international was also among the scorers when his brace helped Pirates to a 3-1 win over Leopards in the league’s year-ending fixtures.

Mhango was part of Pirates’ three-man attack that also saw the reunion of Zambian marksmen Justin Shonga and Augustine Mulenga up front.

To their credit, Celtic refused to go down without a fight.

In fact, the Free Staters were eluded by luck more than anything as they saw one of their attacking efforts came off the crossbar in a move that would have levelled the scores immediately after Mhango’s 14th minute strike.

Pirates goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands’s superb saves helped keep Celtics’ marauding attackers at bay but in the end he was beaten by Siphelele Luthuli’s equaliser.

The introduction of Sera Motebang and Victor Letsoalo by coach Lehlohonolo Seema in the second half proved to be a masterstroke for the home side.

Celtic assumed total control and were duly rewarded when Luthuli finished off Letsoalo’s laid on pass. It was a superb long-range strike with 10 minutes remaining.

The goal was the result of Pirates’ defensive blunder.

Ben Motshwari lost possession near his own goal area in the middle of a cluster of Celtic players and Luthuli pounced.

Keeping clean sheets has been a rare achievement for Pirates and yesterday’s result further reminded Zinnbauer and his men of the work that needs to be done, especially in defence.

The Buccaneers have now let in 22 goals and they will hope to keep it tight when they face Polokwane City in Limpopo on Tuesday.

Celtic on the other hand welcomed yesterday’s draw after they ended the year with two defeats – against Chiefs and AmaZulu.

Phunya Sele Sele are away to Stellenbosch FC in Cape Town on Tuesday.– City Press correspondent

Get in touch  City Press

+27 11 713 9001 news@citypress.co.za Media Park, 69 Kingsway Road, Auckland Park

Rise above the clutter | Choose your news | City Press in your inbox

City Press is an agenda-setting South African news brand that publishes across platforms. Its flagship print edition is distributed on a Sunday.