Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Following their first triumph of 2014 on Monday night, Orlando Pirates head coach Roger de Sa said football can be a funny game sometimes.
Pirates defeated Ajax Cape Town 2-1 at the Orlando stadium in an Absa Premiership clash courtesy of Khethowakhe Masuku and Thabo Matlaba strikes, while Granwald Scott scored a consolation goal for the Urban Warriors.
“RDS” reflected on Pirates' previous two games when they played well but still failed to win.
“Football is crazy. This was the worst we played but here we are with the result,” De Sa said in a televised post-match interview.
“We had to grind the result and that's a big worry.
“We had a few half chances which we should have buried but I'm happy we held on this time. After Masuku scored we knew they would come."
The former Bidvest Wits mentor also hailed the man-of-the-match on the night, Lehlohonolo Masalesa, who came in to replace Andile Jali in the heart of midfield but also revealed that it will be hard to find Jali’s replacement.
Jali has joined Belgian club KV Oostende.
"Very happy with Vieira. He did a fantastic job. He hasn't played for a while and he did well. He deserved man-of-the-match award.
"A player like Andile is hard to replace. We must just find other players that have their strengths and we work to that.
"There's only one Jali but this also means that someone else is going to come in and do well," De Sa added.
Pirates’ win moved them to the top half of the log standings, into eighth spot.
The Buccaneers’ next game will be against Wits at the same venue on February 4 (19:30 kick-off).
Pirates defeated Ajax Cape Town 2-1 at the Orlando stadium in an Absa Premiership clash courtesy of Khethowakhe Masuku and Thabo Matlaba strikes, while Granwald Scott scored a consolation goal for the Urban Warriors.
“RDS” reflected on Pirates' previous two games when they played well but still failed to win.
“Football is crazy. This was the worst we played but here we are with the result,” De Sa said in a televised post-match interview.
“We had to grind the result and that's a big worry.
“We had a few half chances which we should have buried but I'm happy we held on this time. After Masuku scored we knew they would come."
The former Bidvest Wits mentor also hailed the man-of-the-match on the night, Lehlohonolo Masalesa, who came in to replace Andile Jali in the heart of midfield but also revealed that it will be hard to find Jali’s replacement.
Jali has joined Belgian club KV Oostende.
"Very happy with Vieira. He did a fantastic job. He hasn't played for a while and he did well. He deserved man-of-the-match award.
"A player like Andile is hard to replace. We must just find other players that have their strengths and we work to that.
"There's only one Jali but this also means that someone else is going to come in and do well," De Sa added.
Pirates’ win moved them to the top half of the log standings, into eighth spot.
The Buccaneers’ next game will be against Wits at the same venue on February 4 (19:30 kick-off).
