[ad_1]
The German tactician talks about his team’s preparation for the new season and why he presented Thulani Hlatswayo with the captain’s armband.
Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer says “momentum is not yet 100 percent” from his new signings and he needs to put more work into his conditioning as they get closer to the start of the 2020/21 season. Premier Soccer League (PSL).
The pirates hired big-name players ahead of the next campaign, bringing in players like South Africa captain Thulani Hlatshwayo, Terrence Dzvukamanja, Deon Hotto and Thabang Monare, all from Bidvest Wits.
Midfielder Wayde Jootse arrived from Highlands Park and Collins Makgaka was signed from Baroka FC.
Hlatswayo, Hotto, Jooste and Dzvukamanja started in last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Cape Town in an MTN8 quarter-final clash, while Makgaka did not come off the bench and Monare never appeared.
Despite Dzvukamanja starting his Pirates career with the all-important debut goal, Zinnbauer feels new players need more time to adjust to his system.
“This week we have a full week to improve the players again to make them better, then we have our first league game,” Zinnbauer told the media according to Pirates TV.
“You can always say that you have quality in the squad, but for a coach it is not easy. You can manage it, yes, but for a coach nothing better than getting quality in your squad.
“We have a lot of games this season. You see that some of our new signings do not have the conditioning that we need at the moment, but it is normal. Some players have not spent much time with us in training or games.
“We have to work on their conditioning so they get a 100 percent boost. Also work on the tactical things and what we need in the games so that they understand better.
While it was an aerial debut for Dzvukamanja, it was also a memorable occasion for Hlatshwayo, who wore the captain’s armband and started ahead of skipper Happy Jele.
But Zinnbauer says Jele, who came in in the final minutes of the game, has no problem with the captain’s responsibilities being handed over to Hlatswhayo.
“Happy Jele is normally the captain of the club and when Happy is not in the game, then it is Tyson who will lead the team,” Zinnbauer said.
“Tyson [Hlatshwayo] he is a player of the national team, captain of Bafana Bafana, he has the quality for this [to be a leader]. Happy too [has the quality]. We have a lot of good players who can lead the team, wear the captain’s armband.
“But most of the time it doesn’t matter which guy has the qualities to lead the team or has the bracelet.
“We have Happy and Tyson on the team maybe ‘Ntsiki’ [Ntsikelelo Nyauza] or other players. They are in a close circle and they handle it very well. It’s not a problem for Happy, it’s not a problem for Tyson, it’s not a problem for the team. “
It remains to be seen whether Jele will start or have the bracelet returned to him in the first PSL game of the Pirates season at AmaZulu on Saturday.
