Orlando Pirates have played 13 games in all competitions this season with a record of 6 wins, 3 draws and 4 loses. As it stands they are sitting at a comfortable 3rd spot in the PSL with just 4 points between them and the on-form log leaders Kaiser Chiefs, not too bad right?
Well, having being knocked out 2 of the 3 seasonal cup competitions, both times, in a less than impressive fashion and looking less than inspiring in the league things are looking less that peachy for the Parktown residents.
We ma bakaniya kuenze njani na?! (English Translation: Why are our Pirates boys always getting an ass whopping?) is a question most Orlando Pirates fans are asking themselves so I Mr. Zonke Bonke am going to tell them. Now, here are my three, reasons why I think this season Orlando Pirates won’t enjoy the success that they had in the last two seasons:
1. No Ruud Krol
When Ruud Krol 1st took over at Orlando Pirates the club hadn't won a momentous cup for more than a ten years.
Irwin Khoza gave the Dutchman full season to build a discplined, cohesive, talented team and the Iron dukes patients was rewarded with a treble but strangely Krol wasn’t offered a new contract even after delivering the club to its 1st cup success of any sort in more than a decade.
Okay let’s be honest , Krol is no Pep Guardiola and the club was able to win another treble the next season even after he left but the dutch coach brought a high level of fitness, resilience, and consistency to the 1st team which was the key for their success.
2. Loss of fighting spirit
How many times in the past 2 years has Orlando Pirates gone behind and stared defeat in the eye but were able to either to win the match or to at least get a draw? Plenty!
Lately the Pirates team doesn’t seem to display that fighting spirit that they have been known to have had. Heads seem to drop when conceding goal and the players seem to panic.
3. Lack of a consistency in first xi
A good American friend of mine (Morgan Freeman) once said to me (in a movie) "If it aint broke don’t fix it" which means it is a mistake to try to improve something that works SO LEAVE THE DAMN THING ALONE!
I guess Mr Tinkerman Roger De Sa doesn’t share mine and Morgan's sentiments. In the last 5 games they were times where I could I count up to 4 different formations he has changed in one match switching for a orthodox 2 wingers 2 strikers 4-4-2, to a 4 midfield diamond type 4-4-2 with Myeni at the tip of the diamond, to 4-4-1-1, etc.
I know as a coach you should try to find a solution especially if you feel that your team is struggling but every team needs a consistent way they play.
Am I just over exaggerating a little? Okay, perhaps it isn’t as bad as I make it out to be though only time will tell.
