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Johannesburg - Bloemfontein Celtic midfielder Lantshene Phalane has praised his team-mates for their efforts following their 2-1 win over a struggling Orlando Pirates on Tuesday.
Phunya Selesele inflicted the Buccaneers' third Absa Premiership defeat of the 2016/17 season at the Orlando Stadium, thanks to goals from Phalane himself and Mbhazima Rikhotso in the closing stages of the encounter.
The Happy People responded with a goal from skipper Oupa Manyisa.
Phalane revealed that Celtic interim coach Lehlohonolo Seema urged them to "go and have fun" against Pirates and the Lesotho-born tactician's tactics prevailed as they walked away victorious at the end of the day.
“Credit must go to all the guys in the team, we did this together,” said Phalane.
“We just came back from a big 3-0 loss to Ajax Cape Town at home this past weekend.
“And now the coach told us at half-time that there was no team playing against us at all. He told us to go out there and have fun.
“Go out there and have fun gents, that’s what he told us. He said we were playing against an incompetent team on the day.
“So we went back and worked hard as a team, we did our best and scored two goals.”
Celtic’s win moved them into 12th spot in the standings and they are slowly but surely moving clear of the relegation zone.
Zebediela-born Phalane insisted the club need to grab as many points as possible to move further away from the danger zone.
“Every game we play is a mountain to climb. We desperately need those three points.”
“We are still down there in the relegation zone and winning games is always a big boost to us.”
