Taking Bucs to the trophies is all in the detail

29 July 2016 - 18:04 By Marc Strydom
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Black Aces coach Muhsin Ertugral during the Absa Premiership match between Ajax Cape Town and MP Black Aces at Athlone Stadium on February 10, 2016 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Black Aces coach Muhsin Ertugral during the Absa Premiership match between Ajax Cape Town and MP Black Aces at Athlone Stadium on February 10, 2016 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Image: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images

Muhsin Ertugral hopes to bring greater attention to detail to transform Orlando Pirates into a trophy-winning combination.

Since winning back-to-back trebles in 2010 and 2011‚ the Buccaneers have earned just one more trophy – the 2014 Nedbank Cup – even though they have reached a staggering seven cup finals‚ two of them continental.

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New coach Ertugral‚ who took charge of Pirates again this week after having to travel to Europe for a coaching conference in Germany‚ believes concentrating on the fine details can transform reaching finals into silverware for one of the country’s most fearsome squads.

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“It’s very difficult for me to stand here and say now what was wrong before. It’s also not fair for the past coaches – they did their by reaching cup finals‚” Ertugral said. “It shows that the quality was there‚ the possibility was there.

“In sports like basketball or ice hockey‚ the best team always wins. In football it’s XI against XI. You hear of parking of busses. The best team does not have to win.

“In the last few years you look to teams like Barcelona and Bayern Munich‚ where Pep Guardiola has revolutionised the thinking of coaches. And we need to keep updated with those developments.

“And I think here‚ playing in so many cup finals means there is quality. But in the end whatever happened in the detail is what maybe caused problems.

“What I will bring‚ firstly‚ is a football philosophy of how a team should play. We need to find patterns for playing attractive football. And I think I’ve proved that I can do that many times with my previous teams.

“And‚ secondly‚ always try to win games in the right way. It’s difficult enough‚ but I think we have the quality of players to do that.”

It can help Ertugral’s cause that Pirates have finally had an off-season for the first time in four years‚ having not been involved on continental competition.

But the coach‚ who has replaced Eric Tinkler‚ did express his concern that Bucs were given a five-week break from training.

“Looking at it scientifically‚ after three weeks without training the body breaks. You see that Thabo Qalinge is injured – that is a prototype situation‚” he said.

Given Ertugral’s track record‚ though – he has won every trophy in SA except the league – combined with a rested Bucs‚ some big-name signings and a trimmed down‚ more manageable squad‚ and Bucs do have an intimidating air to them ahead of the new season.

Pirates have already put six players on transfer‚ with more expected to follow.

“For me it was very important that we had a bit of a small squad this season so that the team can be more dynamic‚” Ertugral said. “It helps with patterns‚ running spaces‚ knowing each other in the movements‚ when to do what – because these decisions are made in split seconds.

“The players need to use each other much more effectively going forward. And you could see in my training [on Thursday]‚ I stopped the play regularly to make sure we played forward.

“Ninety percent of goals happen in the box so we need to get in there.

“I am also very happy that for perhaps the first time for me in SA football I have such a great technical team next to me of scientists and fitness coaches.”

Among Pirates’ transfer-listed players were striker Lehlohonolo Majoro‚ goalkeeper Felipe Ovono‚ and midfielders Roger Majafa‚ Letsie Koapeng and Yasser Mugerwa. Regular performer Sifiso Myeni’s name on the list raised eyebrows.

“We‚ as coaches‚ also have to analyse. Players can be like stock market exchanges. There is a team dynamism and a certain way we want to play‚” Ertugral explained of Myeni’s departure.

“And in certain aspects we have enough fantastic players in certain areas. On the wing we just got another one from Ajax Cape Town who I think is a very interesting player in South Africa‚ Riyaad Norodien.

“The decision was not negative in the boy [Myeni] not being a good player. But you also need to sometimes open certain spaces for other guys to come in.”

Bucs meet Kaizer Chiefs in Saturday’s preseason Black Label Cup match at FNB Stadium.

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