Morena Ramoreboli picks two players that give Pirates balance
Jwaneng Galaxy head coach Morena Ramoreboli has picked two players that give Orlando Pirates balance following their CAF Champions League encounter at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday night.
Galaxy lost 1-0 to The Buccaneers in the second leg of the Champions League preliminary round. Monnapule Saleng scored a goal in the 90th minute to seal Pirates’ qualification to the group stage for the first time in five years.
The Botswana giants lost 3-0 on aggregate after the first-leg of the second preliminary round finished 2-0 in favour of Pirates at the Botswana National Stadium last weekend.
Meanwhile, in last season’s showpiece, Jwaneng Galaxy eliminated the Soweto giants in the same stage of the competition with a 5-4 victory on penalties after playing to a 1-1 draw over two-legs.
Pirates qualified to group stages alongside South African powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns, who beat Mbabane Swallows 8-0 on aggregate.
RAMOREBOLI PRAISES CENTRE-BACK PAIRING OF OLISA NDAH AND THABISO SESANE
Morena Ramoreboli has praised the centre-back pairing of Olisa Ndah and Thabiso Sesane, revealing that the duo give Pirates a good balance at the back.
Sesane and Ndah have featured in all eight matches in all competitions for the Jose Riveiro-coached club and helped the team keep five clean sheets. Pirates conceded three goals in eight games, and they are in the MTN final, where they’ll face Stellenbosh FC on the 05th of October 2024 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
“I think we kept the ball well but I think one lesson we’ve taken out of the Orlando Pirates team is their patience. There are moments where they were under pressure but you’ll see them still playing in a proper way and not rushing,” the South African-born coach said.
“These are elements that only a group of individuals who are maturing as professionals will understand. Secondly, I think we tested them with so many tactical elements and in some situations you’ll see them reacting to what we are doing in a proper way.
“Also, they know that they are quick and they want to play to their strength and play with speed. I think if one has to give credit, I think that centre-back pairing of Thabiso Sesane and Olisa Ndah is doing well for the team.
“They give a very good balance, they know when to take risks and when to play the ball away, so it takes a special talent to identify certain moments in the game.”
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