Orlando Pirates made a staggering nine changes to their starting line-up for their CAF Champions League match, and head coach Milutin Sredojevic has explained his reasoning.
Read: Ruthless Bucs Take Commanding Lead In CCL
Following their Soweto Derby Telkom Knockout semi-final win over Kaizer Chiefs last weekend, the Buccaneers excluded Happy Jele, Innocent Maela, Musa Nyatama, Asavela Mbekile, Xola Mlambo, Vincent Pule, Thembinkosi Lorch, Thabiso Kutumela and Justin Shonga from the starting line-up against Light Stars of Seychelles.
The nine players were replaced by Abbubaker Mobara, Paseka Mako, Caio Marcelo, Linda Mntambo, Mpho Makola, Meshack Maphangule, Thabo Qalinge, Kudakwashe Mahachi and Augustine Mulenga in Bucs’ new-look starting line-up.
Only Jackson Mabokgwane and Marshall Munetsi, who started against Chiefs, were kept in the starting line-up for Stars in the CCL match.
Speaking to the media after Wednesday’s match, Sredojevic explained that the changes were motivated by the technical team’s plans to rotate the squad to accommodate their busy schedule.
Read: Busy Schedule Ahead As Bucs Aim To Maintain Unbeaten Record
“After last Saturday’s game, we have been so much emotionally exhausted. We were looking to do the right mathematics where we use the players and give more players a chance in this match. We made nine changes, as you could see, only two players started the game against Chiefs that started today.
What did you make of Pirates’ performance with their new-look line-up?
