Maritzburg United head coach Fadlu Davids has given his view on the current Orlando Pirates team compared to last season when he was the co-coach.
Davids was the co-coach at Pirates last season along with Mandla Ncikazi but they had a woeful domestic campaign, where they did not win any trophy and finished in sixth place in the Premiership standings.
The Buccaneers parted ways with the 41-year-old coach at the end of the season after his contract expired and hired Jose Riveiro as the new head coach, with Ncikazi going back to the role as one of Riveiro's assistants.
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Maritzburg held their own against the Sea Robbers in their last league outing after they narrowly lost 2-1 and Davids says the current Pirates team is different, so his knowledge of the Soweto giants did not help so much in the preparations.
"Pirates is a different team that they were last season, they really have a flexible playing style, that they can suddenly be in a three-man defensive line, with an overlapping side centre-back," Davids told the media in a press conference.
"They can be in a four defensive line, so really flexible in how they play, my knowledge is one thing. Every match we analyze, we go into details where we can get small advantages.
"They signed 12 players, most of the time is six, seven new players on the pitch that were not here last season, so they're a new team. Basically they've strengthened in all departments," he said.
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Despite domestic challenges last season, Pirates managed to reach the CAF Confederation Cup final (lost to RSB Berkane on penalties) and Davids alluded that his former club not having a CAF tournament to worry about also makes the difference, as their main focus is on the league.
"They don't have the CAF to worry about, we know the league is now the priority, as it was last season. So the preparation, the knowledge of the team, the knowledge of the stadium, the knowledge of the fans," he continued.
"You could see going into half-time if we had kept it (0-0), the tension growing at Orlando Stadium, it's a small factor. It's the tactical plan that you prepare, the knowledge I have, you can relay to the players but they have to step into the pitch, execute, be brave and take on a club like Orlando Pirates," he added.
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