Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer has backed his squad to find their feet in the 2020/21 season sooner rather than later.
Orlando Pirates welcome Kaizer Chiefs for an MTN 8 Semi-final this weekend having started their DStv Premiership season with successive draws against less fancied opposition.
Everything will come together for Orlando Pirates
Zinnbauer is confident that he has the players at his disposal to turn things around and will be hoping to put Chiefs to the sword this weekend to prove it.
The German trainer said it would take time for the new players in the squad to settle and begin contributing to the cause.
“I do not have fear. I trust and believe in the players. We have new players that have come to the team. So, we’ve changed the players and we have a little bit of work that we need to do in conditioning and organisation, then everything will come together,” Zinnbauer said.
Orlando Pirates have welcomed Thulani Hlatshwayo, Deon Hotto, Terrence Dzvukamanja, Thabang Monare (All from Bidvest Wits/TTM), Richard Ofori (Maritzburg United), Wayde Jooste (Highlands Park/TS Galaxy) and Collins Makgaka (free agent) during the transfer window.
Each of these players have been brought in with the intention of strengthening the first team but have yet to gel in a satisfactory manner.
Zinnbauer lamented having little to no time to integrate the new players into their squad, but feels that the start of the season has now accelerated that process.
“We have a good quality in the squad,” Zinnbauer added.
“As coaches, we want to work with the players and improve exactly what we want. When they arrived for the first time, there was not enough time to work with the players. But in the last two weeks, we can do more work.”
Zinnbauer in the derby
Zinnbauer’s first taste of the derby came just before lockdown when his side slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs.
While no fans will be in attendance on Saturday, the victors will be within touching distance of ending their own trophy drought while extending that of their bitter rivals. There should be no need for additional motivation.
Orlando Pirates will be eager to sharpen up in the final third having shaded the opportunities in both of their recent draws. They may have scored in every game so far this season but need a substantial improvement in the rate at which they convert chances.
