Johannesbrug - Augusto Palacios has admitted that Orlando Pirates desperately need to find another goal-scoring solution when striker Tendai Ndoro misfires, as was the case in the club’s 1-0 defeat to SuperSport United in the Telkom Knockout semi-finals at the weekend.
Ndoro hardly got a sniff at goal, with several of his teammates also fluffing their chances throughout the match. The Zimbabwean forward has scored 10 times in 13 games so far this season and there’s always been the fear that if he has an off-day, then the Buccaneers are likely to come up short against any opposition. Palacios, the interim coach at Pirates, finally conceded he needs an alternative.
“It’s true that we struggle when Ndoro doesn’t score,” Palacios said. “But this is not to say the opportunities aren’t there for others to take the responsibility. You saw with the change we made by bringing (Thabo) Qalinge on, that it was a positive one. He forced two saves from the goalkeeper and Thabo Rakhale also found himself in with a couple of chances. We are working on this. It’s something that happens at any club. We had a lot of attempts on goal and I believe it was just not our day.”
Palacios said it was at times bewildering that a side with so many international players, was so shy in the final third.
“We have a strong mentality, that is not a problem. I can count Jackson Mabokgwane in goal, and he was perfect on the night. The goal we conceded was not his fault. There’s Mpho Makola, Thabo Matlaba (both play for Bafana Bafana), Edwin Gyimah (Ghana) and Ndoro. All of them play for their national teams, so the experience is there, but scoring is another thing.”
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The Star