Orlando Pirates have claimed the first piece of silverware in South African football this season, after beating Mamelodi Sundowns to lift the MTN8 title at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban last Saturday.
The match ended 0-0 after extra-time, with Pirates winning 3-1 on penalties. Former Pirates defender Edward “Magents” Motale told PSLSA that the international break had come at the wrong time for the club, as they could have built on their momentum for a good run in the PSL.
“For me I can say the break came at the wrong time for Pirates. You know after winning such a cup final against a team like Sundowns the morale is high and what you want is to just continue playing,” Motale said.
Motale suggested that the technical team should find a way to maintain the morale of the team during the break, and that the players should keep their desire of winning when the league resumes.
“I know the technical team have a way of maintaining that morale even when the team goes for a break but as a player you want that spirit to continue immediately and keep playing. I just hope that those who are not in the national team squads of their respective countries should keep on working hard at training so that when they come back to play they will then be in the same mood which saw them win the MTN8,” Motale observed.