Orlando Pirates hop off the high of their emphatic CAF Confederation Cup weekend victory straight into their next DStv Premiership task. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer has laded the impact of Deon Hotto on his team’s efforts in the final third.
Orlando Pirates hop off the high of their emphatic CAF Confederation Cup weekend victory straight into their next DStv Premiership task. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer has lauded the versatility of attack-minded Deon Hotto.
Hotto loves to get in on the goalmouth action, and it is not that much of a surprise that he has been used further forward.
Zinnbauer believes that Hotto can now be considered an out-and-out striker.
“Hotto influences the team very well,” Zinnbauer said.
“He can play different positions. Now he has a new position – he’s a striker now. When you look at our previous games in the MTN8, in the league, in the Confederation Cup and even in this Nedbank Cup, you see the assists he has,” the coach added.
Zinnbauer stressed that Orlando Pirates cannot be a one-man team if they want to be successful.
“Hotto is always involved when we score. We’re very happy that we have a player like him. But you need the entire team to win games,” Zinnbauer stated.
“If you don’t play as a team you won’t go anywhere – there will be no positive performances for individuals like Hotto if you do not play as a team.”
Zinnbauer is desperate to manage expectations as Orlando Pirates head into a huge Nedbank Cup quarterfinal against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Pirates ended their long wait for a trophy with triumph in this season’s MTN 8 but their support base remains hungry for more silverware.
“We know we have a good squad, we have players who can win titles. But we are honest, we are playing against the best team in the country at the moment,” he said.
“This is not so easy to manage for journalists or supporters or people outside. I walk on the street and people say‚ ‘you’ve to win the Nedbank’. Yes‚ I’d happy if we win the Nedbank, but it’s a long way to go and we’re playing against Sundowns.”
Mamelodi Sundowns will host Orlando Pirates at Loftus Versfeld from 18:00 in the fourth Nedbank Cup quarterfinal