Ertugral backs Shitolo for Pirates success

Cape Town - Orlando Pirates head coach Muhsin Ertugral is confident defender Gladwin Shitolo has the quality to be a key player for the club in the upcoming season.

Last season Shitolo was shipped out on loan to Golden Arrows, who finished ninth in the Premiership.

Shitolo has appeared to have found favour in new Pirates coach Muhsin Ertugral, who came to replace Eric Tinkler.

Ertugral has been impressed with the form of Shitolo during their preseason preparations and believes he has a role to play in the first team.

"It's good that we have defenders like Shitolo because he can play the ball instead of just kicking the ball up," Ertugral told Soccer Laduma.

"We want to play from the back and build from our defenders. In that way everyone will be involved and create spaces in the midfield."