Arrows out to spoil Pirates party

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 25, Muhsin Ertugral during the Telkom Knockout match between SuperSport United and Golden Arrows at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on October 25, 2011 in Pretoria, South Africa Photo by Samuel Shivambu / Gallo Images

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 25, Muhsin Ertugral during the Telkom Knockout match between SuperSport United and Golden Arrows at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on October 25, 2011 in Pretoria, South Africa Photo by Samuel Shivambu / Gallo Images

Published May 16, 2012

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Golden Arrows coach Muhsin Ertugral says his side will aim to emulate Queens Park Rangers' final day antics in England, only with a better scoreline, when they face Orlando Pirates this week.

The Premiership concludes on Saturday afternoon when the Buccaneers visit the Moses Mabhida Stadium needing a win to secure the title.

The Soweto club are currently on 55 points and two points clear of rivals Moroka Swallows (53), who must win their last game at Maritzburg United to stand a chance of claiming the top prize.

On the final day in the English Premiership last week, QPR appeared to have denied Manchester City the title after a sterling display, only to concede two goals in additional time that allowed the Sky Blues to take the title.

“We saw what happened in England last week on the final day,” Ertugral said on Wednesday.

“If we can create such excitement here, it will be a massive boost to South African football.

“We understand that we need to play our part and we'll try to do what Queens Park Rangers did and one better, which is win the game.”

The Turkish coach felt that a finale such as that would go a long way towards enhancing football in the country.

“The product of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) is exceptional in terms of the brand, but the product on the field isn't,” he said.

“For us on the field to have a copy of what happened in the English championship is important for the product as a whole.”

Ertugral's side have nothing but pride to play for, having already secured their Premiership status after struggling to do so a few weeks earlier, while they are out of the running for a top eight finish.

They also have a few Pirates players on loan at the club, most notably Robyn Johannes, who is a first team regular.

All are eligible to play in what is the final match of the Premiership campaign, with the coach insisting they will give a hundred percent.

“The players we have, including those from Pirates, all have pride and dignity,” Ertugral said.

“They are all honourable and good boys. So I can assure you that we will definitely go out and give it everything."

Ertugral also took a swipe at those suggesting anything to the contrary, adding that the negative media disturbed him.

“I have been in South Africa for a long time and everybody knows, no matter the circumstances, I'm a coach who always does everything to win games," he said.

“It's just another game for us. We're playing against a team that might or might not be league champions, depending on the result." – Sapa

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