Orlando Pirates In Work To Improve

Orlando Pirates and Chippa United will both be looking to improve on their midweek showings when they meet for an Absa Premiership clash at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night.
Kick-off at 20:15 CAT.
Pirates needed a late Issa Sarr goal to salvage a 1-1 draw at home to bottom-of-the-log Baroka FC on Wednesday. The result flattered the Buccaneers, who put in an underwhelming display which left coach Kjell Jonevret frustrated at his side’s lack of progress.
“We have played a few bad halves, but the first half today it looked like we were still in bed,” the Swede said after the game against Bakgaga.
“We were definitely lucky to get a point from this, they could have scored more than one goal. So I am very disappointed at the overall performance, I have to say that. One point, that’s luck.”
However, Jonevret is already looking forward to the clash against Chippa in the hope that his players are able to redeem themselves.
“It’s a funny thing with football, it’s a new chance already on Saturday and I am sure a few of the boys here want to perform much better.”
Chippa come into the game on the back of a 3-2 home loss at the hands of Maritzburg United on Tuesday. The Chilli Boys put up a fight against an in-form Team of Choice, but ultimately they were made to pay for their lack of concentration in defence.

In the wake of the loss, the Eastern Cape club has reportedly placed coach Dan Malesela on ‘special leave’. The tactician tore into his side after they succumbed at home to Maritzburg and this course of action may be in reaction to his anger at the players.
“We need to understand that now it’s not only about the playing part now, it’s about the will to want to win. The drive to want to win and say to yourself, if I’m not tired after 90 minutes then there’s something wrong with me,” said ‘Dance’ in midweek.
“[Maritzburg] came here and they were prepared to do anything to get the points, which was the opposite with us.”
The Chilli Boys have impressed in the Nedbank Cup, advancing to the semifinals for the first time in their history when they defeated Jomo Cosmos last weekend.
Yet their league form cannot compare: Malesela’s side have now gone 10 matches without a win in the Absa Premiership and their primary goal has shifted from a top eight finish to mere survival.
In head-to-head stats, Pirates and Chippa have met in seven league matches since the 2012/13 season. Both the Buccaneers and the Chilli Boys have claimed three wins, while one match ended in a draw.
Pirates have won two of their three home league matches against Chippa, suffering one defeat in the process, while the teams’ league meeting earlier this season saw the Buccaneers triumph 1-0 in the Eastern Cape thanks to a goal from Tendai Ndoro.