Micho: Visible trophies are around the corner

Cape Town - Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic has promised the Buccanneers fans that silverware is "around the corner".

Pirates came agonisingly close to winning their first major trophy since 2014 last season, but missed out on the Absa Premiership title to Mamelodi Sundowns by two points, having led the table with two games to go, only to slip up in their second last game against Cape Town City drawing 2-2.

There is no doubt that the Sea Robbers have been on a steady incline under the stewardship of the Serb tactician and all they need to do now is to translate that improvement into trophies.

“People could speak this or that, we will just say visible trophies are around the corner. Invisible trophies that we’ve succeeded in is that we lifted our criteria and standards of our team,” said Micho.

“Once those criteria and standards are achieved and we have reached the level that we want, in that moment even trophies and other things will come.

“So, instead of thinking about [the trophies], I will repeat that criteria and standards are something we are rushing to catch. We want to be the trophy-material team, which we are not far from.”

Pirates have a gruelling schedule ahead of them in August as they juggle CAF Champions League qualifiers with Absa Premiership fixtures and their boss is well aware of the importance of preparation and recovery.

“Speaking after the first [league] match about anything is unfair, we are just focussing now on entering an unbelievable set of matches starting with CAF Champions League away in Zambia, then SuperSport United and Highlands in the MTN 8,” he added.

“By the end of the month, we’re expecting to have played seven-plus matches – one every two or three days, so it is time to work.

“But, in the same moment, we have to also remember that matches every two or three days are so demanding, so how we recover and prepare is of crucial importance.”