Sekhukhune United coach Eric Tinkler hailed his defence after a 0-0 home draw against title challengers Orlando Pirates on Saturday in the South African Premiership.
“Our defence won us a point,” said Tinkler, a midfielder in the South Africa team that won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations in Johannesburg.
The 55-year-old coach singled out centre-backs Bright Ndlovu, who won the player of the match award, and Daniel Cardoso and goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner for special praise.
“In the closing stages it was a case of Pirates attacking and us defending,” he added after a match in northern city Polokwane that ended with Pirates remaining second and Sekhukhune fourth.
Pirates are level on 29 points with defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, but have an inferior goal difference. Sundowns did not play as they had a CAF Champions League match on Friday.
“I liked the intensity of my players and we deserved to win given the number of chances we created,” said Pirates’ Moroccan coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, a former Premier League defender with Fulham.
“Technically and tactically we were very disciplined against a good Sekhukhune team. If we repeat this performance victories are guaranteed.”
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Knowing a victory would give them a two-point lead over Sundowns with a game in hand, Pirates laid siege to the Sekhukhune goalmouth in the closing stages.
The brilliance of midfielder Kamogelo Sebelebele almost won the match for the Soweto-based Buccaneers, who last won the league in 2012.
He dribbled past two defenders and had a first goal attempt blocked by a defender. He then seized on the rebound only to have his second shot saved by Leaner.
Meanwhile, Chippa United from coastal city Gqeberha moved off the bottom of the table after a 1-0 away win over Premiership newcomers and fellow strugglers Orbit College.
Eswatini international forward Justice Figuareido scored on 60 minutes in northwest mining town Rustenburg to give Chippa only their second win in 16 matches.
Victory ended a nine-match winless run by the perennial relegation battlers since their only other win this season, which came last September at home to Orbit.
— AFP
Photo: Philip Maeta/Gallo Images
