Orlando Pirates coach tells players to have fun before 2-1 win

Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer has turned things around for the club and is still yet to taste defeat.

A Gabadinho Mhango brace helped Orlando Pirates beat Chippa United 2-1 in Port Elizabeth on Saturday evening with Man of the Match Vincent Pule revealing what Zinnbauer said to inspire the performance.

Orlando Pirates are happy campers

Pule credited the German boss with improving the mood in the camp and allowing Orlando Pirates to focus on what they need to do to get positive results.

The midfielder says that Zinnbauer has encouraged the team to have fun out on the park and it has translated into a winning formula for the Sea Robbers.

Malawian international Mhango took his season tally of goals to 14, scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot in just the 12th minute of the match and doubled the advantage just eight minutes later when Veli Mothwa failed to grasp a cross. Chippa clawed one back on the half-hour mark, but Pirates did enough to get another three points and keep their roll going.

“First of all I want to thank God for the talent that he gave me, we played well as a team. We knew that it was going to be difficult, an away game is always difficult,” Pule told SuperSport TV.

The German coach has helped Pirates tighten up at the back, where the tendency to leak goals hurt the Soweto Giants under Rhulani Mokwena they have been solid since Zinnbauer took the reins.

“But we had to pass the ball around, fortunately we got two goals early and I think it’s working for us to score early,” Pule added in the post-match interview.

“The spirit is good, we’re having fun, he said to us, “Go to the pitch, enjoy yourself and have fun”, but we have to defend well and stay compact. And I think it’s working for us.

“We know we have to work hard, we have to continue with what we have now. We have to keep going, it’s good now, we won six [five] games in a row. It’s working for us, we work hard and we keep on going.”

Orlando Pirates resurgence will be put to the test this month with a cup engagement against title contenders Bidvest Wits followed by a massive Soweto Derby on 29 February.

Saturday 1 February’s results leave Orlando Pirates in second place on the league nine points behind Kaizer Chiefs who have a game in hand.