Augusto Palacios is confident his players can stand up to the pressure as the Absa Premiership title race goes down to the wire in KwaZulu-Natal this weekend.
The Buccaneers hold a two-point lead over Moroka Swallows heading into this Saturday’s final fixtures, with Pirates travelling to Golden Arrows, while the Birds visit Maritzburg United.
The Buccaneers had to maintain that advantage the hard way on Saturday afternoon at Orlando, coming from a goal down to beat Bloemfontein Celtic, finally battering through a sturdy Phunya Sele Sele rearguard, with goals in the final 20 minutes from Thulasizwe Mbuyane and Siyabonga Sangweni.
Swallows’ victory over Platinum Stars, however, takes the title race to the final day for the fourth time in five Absa Premiership seasons. And Pirates know that if Swallows beat Maritzburg, only a victory at Arrows will do, with Gordon Igesund’s Birds holding the advantage on goal difference.
Quite amazingly, it was beating Arrows in Orlando that handed the Buccaneers the title last season, with Ajax Cape Town only able to draw at home to, you guessed it, Maritzburg United.
On that occasion, it was Pirates who went into the final game two points back of the Urban Warriors, but this time it is they who hold the upper hand, however tenuous, as they stand on the brink of a second successive domestic treble.
“There is pressure, but I believe with the spirit we have, we can take the pressure,” said Palacios, who has to take credit for revitalising Pirates’ title challenge following the departure of Julio Leal.
The Buccaneers caretaker coach, however, is taking nothing for granted. “Football can be cruel,” he said.
“We have seen in England, the race with Manchester United and Manchester City. I believe we need to work in the same way until the last game. We cannot relax, we will put out our first eleven and we will fight until the end.”
Fortunately for Ghost fans, fighting to the end has been a Pirates trademark over the past couple of seasons, late goals their speciality. Going into the last 20 minutes on Saturday, one had to wonder whether Pirates would find a way through, the packed stadium becoming increasingly agitated.
But Mbuyane’s header gave them a glimpse, and another from Sangweni put the Buccaneers on the brink of glory.
“In the first half I thought we were in too much of a hurry to score,” said Palacios. “The first goal happened early and we were a bit low on confidence.”
It was in just the fourth minute, in fact that Letladi Madubanya headed Celtic into the lead, sending shockwaves through the title race, especially as Siyabonga Nomvethe quickly put Swallows two goals to the good in Dobsonville.
“In the second half we needed to open up on the wings. Daine Klate is a good crosser, Tlou Segolela is more of a runner. We also put on another attacker in Mbuyane, and now we had five players in their box and the numerical advantage,” said Palacios.
“I also told Andile (Jali) and Oupa (Manyisa) to get more to their box. They were only attacking with one striker and a winger and defending with four across midfield and four across the back.”
Palacios’s changes certainly worked well, with his three substitutes all involved in the goals. Ndumiso Mabena crossed for Mbuyane to level, while Klate supplied the final ball for Sangweni.
“I said to Rooi (Mahamutsa), ‘you go forward and leave Sangweni’, and for the next one (attack), ‘Sangweni you go and leave Rooi’. They only had one striker. I knew if we could score one the door would open.”
Palacios admitted that he had no idea what was happening in Dobsonville until after the game. “I didn’t know the Swallows score until now,” he said.
“I told no one to tell me.”
The Pirates coach paid tribute to a fantastic crowd of over 30 000, comfortably the Buccaneers’ best attendance in Orlando this season. “This was one of the key components for the players,” he said.
“They were so motivated when the supporters encouraged them. I never saw a supporter asking for a substitution during the game. They filled the stadium and for the players to play with that crowd was great.”
And Palacios also believes Pirates’ KZN fans can help create a beneficial atmosphere on Saturday.
“It is a difficult away game,” he said. “Arrows are not easy, they have a good coach. We play our football and with the supporters we have we will feel at home.” – The Star