Mngqithi predicts Orlando Pirates’ efficiency may be tested in second half of Premiership

Manqoba Mngqithi delivered an assessment of Orlando Pirates that could be misinterpreted as sour grapes by Buccaneers supporters and casual soccer fans.

Shortly after suffering the ignominy of being the first coach to lose the Carling Black Label Cup in charge of the All Stars, Mngqithi implied that Pirates are unlikely to win the Betway Premiership title.

Speaking at the post-match media conference after the exhibition match at Moses Mabhida Stadium, the Golden Arrows coach said he does not expect Pirates to have as good a second half of the league campaign as they did in the first.

"I can guarantee you, from what they have done in the first half of the season, a lot of teams are going to sit back in the second half, and when they sit back it will ask a lot of questions of the team," Mngqithi said, following the All Stars' 2-0 defeat to the Bucs.

It was the first time in three years that the Carling Knockout champions had won the match, with Pirates’ goals coming in the second half courtesy of substitutes Sifiso Luthuli and Boitumelo Radiopane.

Mngqithi lamented that his team were denied spot kicks for what appeared to be two legitimate penalty appeals in the first half, feeling the game could have gone differently had the referee obliged.

It was when discussing Abdeslam Ouaddou's team that the soft-spoken former teacher raised eyebrows.

"What is fascinating about this Pirates team, which can surprise a lot of people, is that they are just efficient. Sometimes that efficiency dries up because, when you look at the XGs (expected goals), they don’t create many chances.

"They rely a lot on opponents’ mistakes, but they are able to punish those mistakes this season. In the past, they would have missed a lot because they didn’t create as many chances."

Mngqithi believes the change has come with new additions to the team.

"This season, the inclusion of players like Tshepang Moremi and Oswin Appollis has really refined their attacking play. You know what Appollis is capable of. (Yanele) Mbuthuma may be everywhere in that position, but he is strong aerially and works very hard defensively to press from the top, and that is something they are building on."

He fears, however, that Pirates’ approach might not work all the time throughout the marathon of the league championship race.

"That efficiency, if it dries up, then you must rely on creativity.

"How much do you really force opponents to make mistakes?

"It’s a different story to play on transition, and a different story when you have to break low blocks."

Because he anticipates most teams will adopt a low-block approach after the Africa Cup of Nations enforced break, Mngqithi doubts Pirates will manage to stay atop the table and depose Mamelodi Sundowns as champions.

"At the moment, from the top of my head, they have created a lot of goals from transition."

Reflecting on his team’s performance in the half-full, rain-drenched Mabhida Stadium, Mngqithi expressed disappointment that they did not find the net.

"The sad part is that the team didn’t score. The reality is that had we gotten the penalty we should have got in the first half, the complexion of the game would have been different because, in my opinion, that was a very clear penalty," he said, referring to a foul by Makhehleni Makhaula on Mfundo Vilakazi that saw the referee book the Kaizer Chiefs attacker instead.

The All Stars coach also felt hard done by the injury to goalkeeper Brandon Petersen.

"I do believe the injury to Brandon was a big factor in our second half because we had to make four substitutions that can influence the game on the pitch. You never really expect something to happen to the keeper – an experienced keeper who was leading the team well in the first half.

"The substitution killed the thinking of considering even a more experienced centre-back for the second half. We had to try to patch here and there."

Pirates’ lethal counterattack was evident in their opening goal.

"Immediately after a very big chance for us, we lapsed in concentration and were caught on transition, with a goal that, I must say, young Luthuli made a brilliant run for."

Mngqithi believes, however, that the Buccaneers are unlikely to enjoy such opportunities in the second half of the season, as most opponents will play a low block rather than commit men forward.