Orlando Pirates coach is all for showboating

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Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic has given the green light to his players to showboat, saying that football is ultimately played for the supporters.

A brace by Thembinkosi Lorch and a strike by midfielder Xola Mlambo secured Pirates’ passage into the Telkom Knockout semi-finals and in the aftermath of the clash, Sredojevic hailed his players for producing sublime tricks that brought joy to the Buccaneers fans.

‘Football is played for the supporters. We are serving and soldiering on for them. Last year we healed the soul‚ this year we want to feed [the supporters’ souls],’ he said in post-match comments.

‘When something like this comes as a team effort‚ it is not the intention to disrespect the opponent. It is the intention of exciting our supporters and thanking them for the support they have given to us because we want them going back to their home happy because life is not a bed of roses.

‘We don’t want bitterness for their lives‚ we want a bit of sweetness and this is exactly what happened. But‚ as a coach‚ to coach Gavin Johnson and his team‚ I have absolute respect. The best way of defending is keeping the ball in your possession and we tried in the end to defend by possessing the ball,’ he added.

The Serbian mentor swiftly shifted his side’s focus to their Absa Premiership clash against Polokwane City on Tuesday night, saying that they have already forgotten about the win against Usuthu.

‘As we talk now, our supporters are going back home and happy. Us winning this match is for them‚ let them have elements of happiness. For us‚ this is now history and all the focus has to shift to Polokwane City on Tuesday.

‘We are playing against a top and competitive team that has Rodney Ramagalela and their coach Jozef Vukusic. We are expecting a tough match and this is our focus now. We have already forgotten about this win over AmaZulu,’ he concluded.

Photo: Backpagepix

 

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Marshall Gouts