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Rift threatens Bucs' season

Johannesburg - Julio Leal has fuelled speculation of a rift in the Orlando Pirates camp after refusing to comment on the apparent bust-up between himself and assistant coach Teboho Moloi.

Pirates' 1-0 victory over Ajax Cape Town on Wednesday was overshadowed by claims Moloi objected to Leal's decision to remove Thulasizwe Mbuyane with 13 minutes remaining on the clock.

Leal and Moloi were seen arguing on the touchlines over the substitution, but when quizzed about the incident after the match the Brazilian remained tight-lipped on the situation.

"It is a private matter and I think it will be better not to comment on the situation. Usually, with this sort of issues it is better to keep quiet and calm," Leal told Football365.co.za.

The coach did, however, admit there is room for improvement in terms of reaching common ground in the decision making process.

"We will have to see how we improve in terms of taking decisions. That was just one issue and it was done in a good way," he said.

Leal went on to back his own decision to substitute Mbuyane, who scored the solitary goal of the match.

"Mbuyane told us that he was exhausted and he couldn't do his job anymore, so it was a good decision to take him off. We had two other players who were really tired, but he said he was exhausted," Leal added.

"He was helping a lot in midfield and he was always sprinting to help Benni McCarthy and Isaac Chansa upfront, so he got exhausted."

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