Mokwena on Pirates defeat: 'It's been a tough 48 hours'

Cape Town - Orlando Pirates interim coach Rulani Mokwena is refusing to blame the sudden departure of head coach Milutin Sredojevic for their shock 1-0 defeat to Highlands Park in the MTN 8 on Saturday.

Mokwena admitted that it had been a tough 48 hours for the Soweto giants since the departure of Sredojevic but refused to use it as an excuse for their shock defeat to the Lions in the North.

Substitute Wayde Jooste scored late as Highlands Park stunned the Buccaneers at Orlando Stadium to advance to the semi-finals of the MTN 8 competition.

"Difficult match against a very difficult opponent," Mokwena said. "You can see that we've had a lot of things happening within us for the last 48 hours.

"But no excuses, we go back and try to improve and we accept the defeat with the utmost humility."

Meanwhile Sredojevic was confirmed on Monday morning as the head coach of Egyptian giants Zamalek despite claiming his exit from the Buccaneers was due to a family bereavement.

MTN 8 semi-finals:

August 30

SupSport United v Mamelodi Sundowns

September 1