Ertugral chases a winning start
Orlando Pirates will be in the hunt for three points when they take on Golden Arrows for the much anticipated start of the 2016/ 2017 Absa Premiership season at the Orlando Stadium on Wednesday night with kick-off at 7.30pm.
While coach Muhsin Ertugral has had, by his own account, mixed results during his first pre-season at the helm of the Bucs ship, he has remained positive about the team’s progress throughout and says he is after maximum points.
“I don’t take any team lightly; we respect all our opposition and we are aware that the match against Arrows will be a tough one. A team of Orlando Pirates’ calibre has to start very well so we will definitely be on the hunt for all three points.
“There are areas where there are a lot of changes and through these changes the team will have different patterns of play and organisation through the different aspects of the game, so the boys will have to adjust to all these elements constantly.
“But nonetheless I think we have prepared very well, especially over the last camp which was vital to show us where we stand.”
Ertugral said the club had overcome a few challenges in pre-season training, particularly with how they wanted the players to approach the game but said the good thing Pirates is that they have such a great squad and were confident they can get the job done.
“There is a lot of excitement around the team; we have struck a good balance of youth and experience and I think we will deliver the type of football that will excite our supporters while we get the results.
“I am very excited over the prospects we have in the team, players from the Olympics like Kutumela, Motupa and Mobara as well as the young players such as Lebohang Sentsho from the Pirates Under-23 side who has been promoted to the first team.”