Will Palacios sink or swim?

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Orlando Pirates coach Augusto Palacios.

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Orlando, Soweto – Augusto Palacios’ tenure as Orlando Pirates coach is becoming more like the miserable tale of the club’s former coaches Gordon Igesund and Roy Barreto, who did not last in the Buccaneers’ hot seat even after they had won the league title in their time with the club.

Igesund won the Premiership in the 2000/2001 season and Barreto two campaigns later, but that was not enough to win over the hearts of the club’s supporters and both were shown the door not too long after they masterminded their title winning seasons.

Now barely a month into the 2012/2013 Premiership season, Palacios is under tremendous pressure in the Buccaneers’ hot seat, having surrendered the MTN8 title which the club held for two seasons. They are also without a victory, or a goal, in his last four matches.

On Saturday, the Buccaneers were humiliated by rampant Moroka Swallows, who put three past Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa on an awful night characterised by incompetence and disorganisation – particularly in defence. The defeat followed that humiliating 3-0 battering at the hands of SuperSport United in the MTN8.

In spite of all the early season pressure, Palacios, who took over as caretaker coach when Julio Leal left the club in March and was later given the post on a full-time basis after winning the league in May, says he will not leave his post, not unless the club’s management relieve him of his managerial duties.

“Any coach at a top club will be under pressure because of results. You stay at a club by the results. I’m not a person who will resign or leave. The management will make the decision.

“I know my knowledge and I know my capacity. Sometimes to find the right combinations with new players is not easy. We have tried several combinations and we are not scoring. It’s part of football. Pirates have 31 players at the moment and we need to find the right combinations,” said Palacios.

The Buccaneers have won only two of their six matches in the league and cup thus far, a poor run of form which could have many asking whether their reign as kings of football in the PSL is slowly coming to an end. Palacios has taken full responsibility for the club’s poor form.

“I can’t blame the players,” Palacios said. “I take responsibility for the defeat and I don’t have a problem.

“Football is a game of mistakes. I told players we need to take the chances we create. This team has quality, but it’s a surprise that we can’t do well in front of goal. But I will not blame them,” he said.

Even though Palacios has shouldered most of the blame, the coach sent out a stern message to his players following the defeat to their Soweto rivals, saying their “big names” will not guarantee them a spot in the team.

“I don’t play with names. You don’t play by name, you play by performance.”

His comment was triggered by a question regarding Andile Jali, who did not seem too interested in playing and was eventually substituted late in the game.

“I spoke to him. He needs to correct things and he has not started the season well and needs to ask why he is not performing and why he is not in the national team.”

Palacios will no doubt welcome the Fifa week, which will give him some time to work on both his striking and defending departments.

Pirates’ next clash is against Platinum Stars on Saturday, September 15. – The Star