ORLANDO Pirates’ interim coach Augusto “Njenje” Palacios wants goals!
That was the point made to his players by Palacios, who has been working non-stop to improve their finishing ahead of tonight’s Absa Premiership clash with Baroka FC at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium (7.30pm).
Said Palacios yesterday as he wound up training: “The team is improving with every game. But the most important aspect we still need to work on is finishing. We have worked hard all week on shooting practice. I told the players it is not just Tendai Ndoro who can score. We can all score goals.
“If we can’t score we can’t win, it’s as simple as that.”
“We scored three goals (all 1-0 league wins) and conceded one in the four games I’ve been in charge. We need to make sure we put the ball in the back of the net.”
Zimbabwean star Ndoro has scored nine of Bucs’ 10 league goals this season, while captain Oupa Manyisa scored the other goal via a penalty.
And that is why Palacios is worried his other players are not properly assisting Ndoro.
The coach stressed that the players were over their disappointing 1-0 loss to SuperSport United in last weekend’s Telkom Knockout semifinal played at Mbombela Stadium.
That was the former Peruvian World Cup star’s only defeat in four games.
He said he was concerned about Baroka but told his players this is a must-win game: “Baroka are like Chippa United. They are dangerous and play good football. They will be tough , so we must be ready.”
Palacios added that with four games remaining in 2016 he wanted maximum points: “We can’t afford to drop points. We need to beat Baroka. We have to go there in a positive frame of mind, looking for three points.”
Bucs will be minus key defender Thabo Matlaba, who was sent off against Matsatsantsa for a bad tackle on Jeremy Brockie.
But Palacios said he had depth and would look to the likes of Patrick Phungwayo and Ayanda Gcaba to fill in for Matlaba.
