Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic praised his side for the way that they responded after Thamsanqa Gabuza’s bizzare incident in their 2-1 victory against Black Leopards.
The Soweto giants ended their three-game winless streak when they defeated Lidodha Duvha courtesy of an own-goal and a strike by winger Vicent Pule.
The victory was marred by a bizzare incident involving Pirates forward Gabuza, who assisted the opener, before removing his jersey in celebration and then walking off the pitch.
‘It was a football thriller from start to end. Under unbelievable circumstances we remained without one player in a moment where we scored the goal and we are supposed to cool down. I don’t want to comment on that,’ he said in post-match comments.
‘Before that we had five or six clear chances to open the scoring and that own goal came. It’s not easy to play over 60 minutes with a player less. I want to give credit to the players we cooled our heads at halftime.
‘They gave everything they could. They respected the jersey and the supporters. Deservedly we got the second goal. We showed lack of concentration to allow the equaliser. It became a thriller and unpredictable towards the end. I believe we deserved to win given what we have given on the field,’ he added.
The Serbian mentor was mum about Gabuza, but did stress the fact that t’s the first time it has happened to him in 35 years since being involved in football.
‘It was not easy. In 35 years [in football ]it has not happened to me but everything happens once. It’s a lesson we have learned.
‘In anyway we resettled ourselves in a 5-3-1 [formation] dropping back because it’s not easy to play against a very good team as Black Leopards with a player less for 60 minutes. I want to give credit to the players they have given everything
‘He got injured prior to the goal there and when the goal came he was leaving the field without the consent of the referee and the referee acted as per the rules. [The injury] It is above his knee in his muscle. It is something I will not comment because I’m a technical person,’ he concluded.
