Swallows FC head coach Ernst Middendorp says Orlando Pirates hold the same quality in their squad as runaway DStv Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Middendorp suffered a first home defeat since taking over at the relegation-threatened side in what was a 4-1 thrashing in the Original Soweto Derby with Monnapule Saleng stealing the show, bagging a hattrick and an assist for Terrence Dzvukamanja’s goal.
But Middendorp is cognizant of the fact that his current squad cannot match the Buccaneers pound for pound within the current situation at the cash-strapped Dube Birds.
“I can only repeat, that whoever thinks the squad we have here is capable to compete with teams who have a number of first-class players inside the PSL, for me the squad is on the same level as the squad from Sundowns, there’s no doubt about it,” Middendorp said at Dobsonville Stadium on Friday evening.
“We have very clear ambitions to stay in the league at the end, if we can make position 13 or 14, it would definitely be a huge, huge achievement, probably later, to explain it… I think a lot of guys who are in the PSL, who follow it, would be aware of that.
“But good… we have to pick up the pieces, bring some players back. Keagan Allan, some option, Bongani Sam, try to get Gregory Damons back who has a bit of an issue.
“We need to [plan] for Golden Arrows, that’s my next focus – congratulations to Pirates, that’s all I can say [about the result.”
Middendorp has overseen 11 games for the club since replacing Dylan Kerr, winning three, drawing two, and losing six.
