Bucs find structure as new faces impress

ORLANDO Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer was not underplaying his side’s defeat on Sunday when they surrendered the Carling Black Label Cup to arch rivals Kaizer Chiefs, but he was buoyed by the “good mood in the team” afterwards at Orlando Stadium.

For the Pirates supporters, the outcome didn’t go down well, but Zinnbauer said the team was “finding more and more structure” in spite of fielding untried combinations on Sunday afternoon.

“We had better chances than Chiefs,” said Zinnbauer.

“It was a good performance. We needed the goal.

“At the moment we have a good mood in the team. We are finding more and more structure. It was good to see us with the ball. Not our best, but it’s normal for this time of pre-season.

“To lose in penalties is always difficult. It’s a final. You have to win the final, but I think the performance was good for this moment (of the year).”

Zinnbauer said Sunday’s outing had given him a chance to assess the new signings and how they will fit into the Pirates playing pattern.

“After the match, I can say that I understand my team better,” said Zinnbauer. “I was happy to see how they integrated, and the new players shone.”

Pirates’ next match will be against Swallows FC in the MTN8 on August 14, and Zinnbauer’s primary concern is the lack of firing power upfront.

Strikers Zakhele Lepasa and Tshegofatso Mabasa have been nursing long-term injuries and on Sunday the Sea Robbers were forced to field lone striker Gabadinho Mhango.

“We have Mhango now, so we have to focus on getting him to perform,” said Zinnbauer

“I hope over the next few days Mabasa returns but we cannot guarantee that he’ll be ready for the (Swallows) game.

“Every coach wants a striker, a top striker. If you have a top striker, you can score. Now you see (substitute) Boitumelo Raidopane didn’t have a bad game as an 18-year-old player.

“We have to focus on what we have. We have young players, but we also have the experience. We have to wait now to see what happens next week or over the next 10 days in terms of Mabasa.

“Lepasa is a little bit more behind like Mabasa. All coaches want their strikers on the field. If you have your strikers on the field, you have more chances to score. At the moment we have just Gabadinho and the youngsters.”

Meanwhile, news coming out of Ghana is that King Faisal FC striker Kwame Peprah is on his way to South Africa.

Two Ghanaian sports websites have speculated that he is on his way to join Pirates.

King Faisal FC official George Amoako has confirmed that Peprah will join a club in South Africa.