Cape Town Spurs interim coach Sean Connor has explained how his side managed to upset Orlando Pirates to pick up their first DStv Premiership victory of the season on Wednesday evening.
A resilient Spurs stunned Pirates to go 2-0 up thanks to goals from Lubeni Haukongo and Jarrod Moroole, and while Evidence Makgopa pulled one back, Spurs were able to hang on for their first points of the season.
Connor, who was on the bench for the first time after getting his work permit, was obviously delighted with the win, but said they are only just starting a process at the club.
“The minute you think it gets easier, this game bites you in the bum, so no, it doesn’t get any easier,” Connor said in the post-match press conference.
“I’ve just said to the players in there, that’s one game, we started a process, and that’s how we respond. We set a fairly decent standard.
“I think to be honest with you, this team, even earlier on the season, probably had better performances and had defeats. I think what we showed tonight was resilience, belief, and a trust in the process.
“So that’s a pretty good start. But no, it doesn’t get any easier. And I won’t allow the players to think it gets any easier.”
When asked by iDisk Times how the players have adapted to his change of tactics and managed to beat Pirates, Connor explained that keeping their shape and structure helped them upset the Buccaneers.
“100% I think even from the SuperSport game, I thought a shape and our application was really good,” he replied.
“I think what tonight has given us is we now know we can ride it out against some of the bigger teams in this league.
“When you get a win like that it helps you reinforce the message to the players that the shape and the structure we’re building is there for a reason.
“But the application of the players from day one has been spot on, there’s no lack of desire here. No lack of work. Maybe a lack of luck at times.
“And as I said on TV, we rode our luck tonight but I think we we probably earned it.”
