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Cape Town - Orlando Pirates striker Lennox Bacela insists the team are "a
family again", and expects the Soweto giants to quickly rediscover their
very best form.
To say the Buccaneers' have been off the boil this term would be a huge understatement, with the side currently ninth in the Premiership standings and a whopping 18 points adrift of leaders Kaizer Chiefs.
However, a disastrous start to December - where they suffered back-to-back defeats and saw Vladimir Vermezovic resign as head coach - was slightly eased on Wednesday following the 1-1 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns, where Bacela cancelled out Khama Billiat's opener to earn the Sea Robbers a valuable point.
The general feeling amongst the Pirates squad seems to be that they have turned the corner, and Bacela is confident they can use the result against the Brazilians to inspire a turnaround in the second-half of the campaign.
"Mentally we were ready. We were playing at home and we had to show character after going a goal down. I think people will agree that we saw the Pirates that we know," Bacela, whose side are next in action against Ajax Cape Town on Saturday, told The Sowetan.
"We are back and we are a family again. It was great to see the spirit back."
Bacela had finished last term as Pirates' top scorer with 13 goals, but has not enjoyed nearly as much success this time round as his strike against Sundowns proved his first of the campaign.
However, the Bafana Bafana international is confident he can now start finding the back of the net more regularly.
"The first goal always gives you confidence going forward and I hope I can help my team," he added.
To say the Buccaneers' have been off the boil this term would be a huge understatement, with the side currently ninth in the Premiership standings and a whopping 18 points adrift of leaders Kaizer Chiefs.
However, a disastrous start to December - where they suffered back-to-back defeats and saw Vladimir Vermezovic resign as head coach - was slightly eased on Wednesday following the 1-1 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns, where Bacela cancelled out Khama Billiat's opener to earn the Sea Robbers a valuable point.
The general feeling amongst the Pirates squad seems to be that they have turned the corner, and Bacela is confident they can use the result against the Brazilians to inspire a turnaround in the second-half of the campaign.
"Mentally we were ready. We were playing at home and we had to show character after going a goal down. I think people will agree that we saw the Pirates that we know," Bacela, whose side are next in action against Ajax Cape Town on Saturday, told The Sowetan.
"We are back and we are a family again. It was great to see the spirit back."
Bacela had finished last term as Pirates' top scorer with 13 goals, but has not enjoyed nearly as much success this time round as his strike against Sundowns proved his first of the campaign.
However, the Bafana Bafana international is confident he can now start finding the back of the net more regularly.
"The first goal always gives you confidence going forward and I hope I can help my team," he added.
