Palacios wants to leave successor with a winning Orlando Pirates

17 February 2017 - 15:51 By Mark Gleeson
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now

Augusto Palacios wants to leave his successor with a well-oiled and winning machine when he vacates the Orlando Pirates coaching job after Saturday’s Absa Premiership match at Cape Town City.

Palacios’ latest tenure as caretaker coach – his fifth in total for the club – is set to come to an end after a tumultuous last week when the club’s chairman Irvin Khoza names a new full-time coach on Monday.

Pirates are in a slump after going eight games in all competitions without victory since winning at Chippa United in November but the 65-year-old Peruvian hopes that he can turn things around at Cape Town Stadium.

“We know it’s a good team and the game is going to be tough. But we need to be strong. There is nothing we can do now to reverse what has happened before‚” Palacios said.

  • The PSL this weekend: No easier for desperate Pirates against CTN CityThere are five more matches in the Absa Premiership this weekend‚ including a trip for ailing Orlando Pirates to the Mother City to face Cape Town City. Times Media Digital provides a quick guide of what you can expect from the fixtures. 

“But if we can get a good result we can give the new coach the right atmosphere to begin his work. We all hope that the new coach can lift the team.”

The last time Palacios was coach‚ he replaced Julio Leal and saw Pirates through to the PSL title.

But this time he says there have been many other differences‚ not least having to take over from Muhsin Ertugral much earlier in the season.

“This time there were a lot of new faces I never knew. There were just a few left over from my last time like Happy Jele‚ Oupa Manysia and Brighton Mhlongo. All the rest were new players I needed time to understand‚” he said.

  • 'No rift' as Pirates ship starts sinkingOrlando Pirates' veteran defender Happy Jele has denied speculation of a rift in the squad, making an emphatic statement of unity although the club lost again on Wednesday night. 

Palacios said he would be happy to help the new coach – whose identity remains the subject of furious speculation – with any advice should he be seeking it.

“I always wish the best to this club‚” he said.

Palacios has been at Pirates for 22 years and will return to work at the club’s academy.

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now