Johannesburg - Issa Sarr has stepped up for his Orlando Pirates teammates in more ways than one this season.
The Senegalese hardman has been like a bulldog at the heart of midfield, barking instructions and protecting his back four whether it’s sitting on the arc of the centre-line or being shifted back as coach Eric Tinkler struggles to field a consistent backline.
His passing has also improved, which was an Achilles heel because he would lose the ball with his wayward passes just after winning possession.
The Bob Marley look-alike had So Much Things To Say on Tuesday at Rand Stadium as he stood up for his teammates ahead of Saturday’s Soweto derby against arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs.
The Sea Robbers go into this match in troubled waters, sitting at the bottom half of the log and have lost as many matches – six in 14 matches - as they did in their entire campaign last season. The biggest problem in the club is inconsistency in the starting XI, especially in the defensive unit and lack of leadership.
Sarr brushed aside these issues, even though Thabo Rakhale admitted that the reason why they did well in the CAF Confederation Cup was because there was a core group of players who were selected.
Sarr spoke passionately about leadership. He was, after all, handed the armband after Happy Jele was substituted in a 2-0 loss to Golden Arrows in October last year.
He tried to give it to Siyabonga Sangweni and Thabo Matlaba but both refused it, before Thamsanqa Gabuza took it. Matlaba eventually wore it when Gabuza was substituted. Matlaba has gone on to wear the armband in Jele’s absence just as Jele has been doing while regular skipper Oupa Manyisa recovers from a knee injury.
“When it comes to leadership at Pirates, we have a culture like any other team,” Sarr said. “We have a Siyabonga. He is older than me. He has been playing here a long time. He has played for Bafana Bafana. I can’t get the armband ahead of him. “It’s about respect. I am an African, I must respect people especially those older than me. If they all say that I must take the armband, I won’t because I must respect.”
That sorry episode was just one of the many embarrassing moments that have unfolded in the Buccaneers camp. A victory in the Soweto derby might not solve all of those problems but it would go a long way in turning things around.
But then again, that’s what they said after the 3-1 beating they handed Amakhosi in the first instalment of this fixture. Pirates’ domestic form continued to be miserable, which was then made worse by the club’s loss in the final of the CAF Confederation Cup and a semi-final exit in the Telkom Knockout at the hands of Chiefs.
“We are here to work,” Sarr said. “I am from far. I come here to work, with all of my heart. You can see in the way we play.
“We as players talk because if things are not going well, we have to regroup. But most importantly talk among each other and the coach.
“We have to be strong because other people just want to see us down there for long. Now we have to stick together.”
The Star