ORLANDO Pirates head coach Muhsin Ertugral will be cracking the whip at training this week in a bid to get his players shipshape.
Bucs have been out of sorts this season and have looked unconvincing despite being unbeaten in five Absa Premiership matches and collecting nine points. They are four behind joint leaders Kaizer Chiefs and Golden Arrows, but have a match in hand.
Ertugral was tearing his hair out at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday when a last gasp header from Tendai Ndoro earned Bucs a lucky 1-1 draw against Polokwane City.
The coach has a lot of work ahead this week before they host Arrows in the opening round of the Telkom Knockout at Orlando Stadium on Sunday (3pm).
Bucs beat Arrows 3-1 in the opening league fixture at the same venue in August but Arrows have improved since then.
Ertugral, who replaced Eric Tinkler at the start of the season, has two wins and three draws but is not happy with the way his side lost possession to Rise and Shine.
Said Ertugral: “This is not the type of football I want Pirates to play. We are going to have to knuckle down at training this week and learn not to give the ball away.”
Pirates looked like they couldn’t care less against a fired up City side. Bucs carelessly gave the ball away in midfield and defence, and hardly threatened the home side’s defence until the last 15 minutes when they went all out to salvage a point.
Said Ertugral: “I was not happy. We need to focus on not losing possession and make our balls into the final third count.”
Issa Sarr and Mpho Makola were guilty of losing the ball in midfield, while Abbubaker Mobara was taken off early in the second half when he lost possession and almost cost his side another goal.
Ertugral is worried about the threat posed by Arrows: “Arrows are a good side and have improved a lot since we played them at the start of the season. We will have to show more discipline and make sure we stop giving the ball away cheaply in defence and midfield. We need to tighten up all round.”