Muhsin Ertugral inherited an Orlando Pirates side that’s a lot like a fancy laptop with outdated software. Owning it is a big source of pride because it’s easy on the eye. But it’s not productive enough because key elements are either not there or they’re a couple of years behind.
The core of the Pirates team was years behind when Ertugral took over before the start of this season with a number of players close to their sell-by date. Ertugral has been slowly phasing them out while bringing in fresh blood.
Ultimately, 19-year-old Tercious Malepe will slot into the club’s defence, with 22-year-old Abbubaker Mobara controlling the midfield and 23-year-old Thabiso Kutumela driving Pirates forward. That’s why the Turkish coach has been painstakingly updating Pirates’ software to a point that he even speaks like an IT specialist.
“Our attack will be better in the coming weeks and months,” Ertugral said. “The positioning isn’t that good when we go forward. Our wingers sometimes drift a lot. When the ball comes they are too far away to be effective. We are working on those elements. It’s not easy because we are decoding the movement they have been doing all these years (replacing that with new software). There are moments where they ask themselves, what must I do now? The ball is already gone when they make up their mind because in certain instances you need a split second decision.”
Split second decisions will be crucial at FNB Stadium when the Buccaneers take on arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto Derby.
This will be Ertugral’s first derby on the other side of Soweto. He had two successful stints with Amakhosi, winning everything on offer except the league. Pirates want him to do that and more, even in his first season at a club that’s a work in progress.
The Buccaneers find themselves in this position because they weren’t quick enough to refresh the squad at the height of their success five seasons ago, winning six trophies in the space of two seasons. Ertugral not only has to take them to those heights but he also has to change the mentality and instil his own imprint in the process.
“If there is a sparkling water cup to play for, I am expected to win that. That’s normal. I don’t make those rules. They are there. This is a club with a rich history and a great tradition. As a coach, I need to produce,” Ertugral said.
The Soweto Derby is something of a champagne cup. A win will make Ertugral the toast of the Ghost. A defeat will see him wake up with a pounding headache. He needs the win to buy himself time while he works on the team.
Chiefs need the win to rubber stamp their comeback that has seen them go on a five-match winning run in all competitions. The Buccaneers are four points behind Chiefs with a game in hand. “We all need this win,” Ertugral said. “It’s a big game. We want to win it to be No 1 again. It’s important we win our games to stay in the hunt for the league - It’s an ongoing process of improving. I don’t look at the other side (Chiefs) at how they feel. We need to win this game.”
Saturday Star