I wish to be in the shoes of Roger De Sa
(RDS) as head coach of Orlando Pirates. Roger is coaching the Premier Soccer League
best balance team. It is for the second time since 1995 that Pirates have
balance and effective team with more than 2 quality players in each position.
The term "balance" is used in the context of quality of players
not accolades achievement. Kostadin Papic once had fairly balance team at
Pirates but he won nothing.
The Verdict
Goalkeeper
The Verdict
Goalkeeper
The goalkeeping department is very
strong with Senzo Meyiwa doing well to be considered as first choice keeper in
the absence of injured Moneeb Josephs. The presence of Meyiwa will revitalized
the hunger of Josephs to do well after some erratic performance.
Defence
Pirates always struggled to have an effective left back since the days of Edward "Magents" Motale but that void has been filled permanently., the defence is balance despite Rooi Mahamutsa long term injury but Andile Ngcaba has done well without putting his foot wrong but his biggest weakness is poor ball distribution. His passes are always astray. He likes kicking long balls upfront but at Pirates we enjoy building from the back. Ngcaba is good but he needs to build more confidence to start building from the back. The defence is one of Pirates strongest link in the last 3 years.
Pirates always struggled to have an effective left back since the days of Edward "Magents" Motale but that void has been filled permanently., the defence is balance despite Rooi Mahamutsa long term injury but Andile Ngcaba has done well without putting his foot wrong but his biggest weakness is poor ball distribution. His passes are always astray. He likes kicking long balls upfront but at Pirates we enjoy building from the back. Ngcaba is good but he needs to build more confidence to start building from the back. The defence is one of Pirates strongest link in the last 3 years.
Soon RDS will have a serious headache
about Thabo Matlaba and Happy Jele. Jele delivers goals in the dying
minutes of the game whilst Thabo Matlaba delivers offensive movement by
bolstering the attacks. My advice to RDS is to push Matlaba foward as right
winger and Jele as right back provided he is fit enough to start the game. Jele
showed glimpse of fit player against Leopards with his offensive and defensive
movement.
Midfield
Pirates have quality midfielders with balance central midfielders, right and left wing. Most Pirates midfielders have the same attribute which is blistering pace and array of skills. The only problem in the midfield is not players but RDS ultra defensive tactics by congesting the middle of park with 3 anchormen which limits offensive and creative moves but in the previous 3 games, RDS reverted to the traditional Pirates wing play and to this end, the team scored 8 goals and conceded 2 goals which resulted in Pirates topping the Q2 log.
Striking Force
Pirates have quality midfielders with balance central midfielders, right and left wing. Most Pirates midfielders have the same attribute which is blistering pace and array of skills. The only problem in the midfield is not players but RDS ultra defensive tactics by congesting the middle of park with 3 anchormen which limits offensive and creative moves but in the previous 3 games, RDS reverted to the traditional Pirates wing play and to this end, the team scored 8 goals and conceded 2 goals which resulted in Pirates topping the Q2 log.
Striking Force
All Pirates players are strikers in
their own rights. Goals at Pirates are not limited to strikers as any player
has a potential to bang goals. Pirates have fairly balance striking force. Collins
Mbesuma is slowly but surely redeeming his goal scoring reputation whilst Takesure
Chinyama composure is out of this world. Benni McCarthy
is ready to reclaim his spot in the team but Pirates striking force is ageing.
The team needs to introduce youngsters for future planning.
By Owen Mundalamo
Football Food for Thought
