ORLANDO Pirates failed to overcome struggling Platinum Stars when they drew 1-1 in an Absa Premiership match played at FNB Stadium last night.
Pirates were eager to return to winning ways having lost only one match so far this season which came at the hands of defending league champions Bidvest Wits who beat them 1-0.
Although, Bucs coach Milutin Sredojevic brought stability in the side that failed to finish the past season within the top eight, his side struggled to get the better of a Stars side that lacked depth.
Bucs wingback Thabo Matlaba broke the ice a minute into the second half following a great pass from Thabiso Kutumela. But their joy was short lived two minutes later when Bongi Ntuli equalised.
Pirates are third on the league table with 13 points from eight games, while Stars remain rooted to the bottom with three points from the same number of matches.
Dikwena came into the match desperate to register their first win of the season. Stars coach Roger de Sa was under pressure to please his employers as his charges had gone seven matches without a win prior to the encounter. This was his sixth game in charge without luck.
Stars lost 2-0 to SuperSport United during his first game in charge and that was followed by a goalless draw with Chippa United, 1-0 defeat to Golden Arrows, 1-1 draw with AmaZulu and a 1-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns.
Stars management had thought the former Ajax Cape Town mentor will be a quick remedy to restore the club’s dented pride and move their side from the bottom of league table. De Sa replaced Englishman Peter Butler who was shown the door after being at the helm for a mere two games.
De Sa has been struggling to fine tune his charges and this was evident last night as his side defended for the majority of the second half having easily lost possession of the ball which left a lot to be desired.
