Share

Arrows aim for Pirates upset

Durban - Golden Arrows coach Muhsin Ertugral says his side will aim to emulate Queens Park Rangers’ final day antics in England, only with a better scoreline, when they face Orlando Pirates this week.

The Premiership concludes on Saturday afternoon when the Buccaneers visit the Moses Mabhida Stadium needing a win to secure the title.

The Soweto giants are currently on 55 points and two points clear of rivals Moroka Swallows (53), who must win their last game at Maritzburg United to stand a chance of claiming the top prize.

On the final day in the English Premiership last week, QPR appeared to have denied Manchester City the title after a sterling display, only to concede two goals in additional time that allowed the Sky Blues to take the title.

“We saw what happened in England last week on the final day,” Ertugral said on Wednesday.

“If we can create such excitement here, it will be a massive boost to South African football.

“We understand that we need to play our part and we’ll try to do what Queens Park Rangers did and one better, which is win the game.”

The Turkish coach felt that a finale such as that would go a long way towards enhancing football in the country.

“The product of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) is exceptional in terms of the brand, but the product on the field isn’t,” he said.

“For us on the field to have a copy of what happened in the English championship is important for the product as a whole.”

Ertugral’s side have nothing but pride to play for, having already secured their Premiership status after struggling to do so a few weeks earlier, while they are out of the running for a top eight finish.

They also have a few Pirates players on loan at the club, most notably Robyn Johannes, who is a first team regular.

All are eligible to play in what is the final match of the Premiership campaign, with the coach insisting they will give a hundred percent.

“The players we have, including those from Pirates, all have pride and dignity,” Ertugral said.

“They are all honourable and good boys. So I can assure you that we will definitely go out and give it everything."

Ertugral also took a swipe at those suggesting anything to the contrary, adding that the negative media disturbed him.

“I have been in South Africa for a long time and everybody knows, no matter the circumstances, I’m a coach who always does everything to win games," he said.

“It’s just another game for us. We’re playing against a team that might or might not be league champions, depending on the result."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2249 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE