Zinnbauer: Orlando Pirates didn’t train for the Mamelodi Sundowns game

Orlando Pirates head coach Josef Zinnbauer has revealed that his side had no training session for the Mamelodi Sundowns game on Sunday.

But that’s partly understandable and here is why…

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Pirates played Enyimba away on 28 April, meaning they only had a three-day window to return home and plan for table-toppers Sundowns.

Sundowns hammered the Buccaneers 3-0 on the day, and while the majority blame Zinnbauer and the club’s defence, in particular Thulani Hlatshwayo for the loss, the German mentor saw things differently.   

“We had no training session. You need power for this game. It’s always the same players on the field,” said Zinnbauer after the game.

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“It wasn’t our defensive structure that was the problem; it was more concentration from the passing line,” he added.

Furthermore, Zinnbauer blamed injuries after the defeat, saying Pirates missed the presence of players such as Happy Jele, Thembinkosi Lorch and Terrence Dzvukamanja who are all out injured.

“We have to understand [that] we have so many injured players at the moment. We had a long travel in the last two days.

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“You need special players like Happy Jele, Lorch, Dzvukamanja. They have the experience in these games,” added Zinnbauer.