Orlando Pirates assistant coach Sergio Almenara has declared their pre-season tour of Spain a success, saying the performances of the players have been more important than the results ahead of a big season that includes CAF Champions League action.
The Soweto giants played three pre-season friendly matches in Spain, beating Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-0 and Independiente del Valle 3-1 before drawing goalless with Spanish top flight side UD Las Palmas on Wednesday.
“We are happy with the performance of the players and happy with what we have seen on this pre-season tour,” the Spanish-born coach said via Vlismas Media.
“For us what’s been more important than the results in the training matches is the performance of the players and giving them all the necessary minutes and playing time for them to be ready for the upcoming season.”
The technical team has also vowed to leave no stone unturned in their quest to use technology to keep driving the performance of the club.
Rayaan Jacobs, Orlando Pirates’ Head Performance Analyst, said his team is well-positioned to support the players and coaches with the kind of cutting-edge data analysis that is key to the modern game.
“We’re looking forward to contributing to the club’s journey in Africa,” he said.
“We won’t leave any stone unturned in understanding the teams we’ll be facing in Africa and finding the best possible solutions to beat them. It’s nothing new to us as a club or a department. On the contrary, we’re even more prepared for it now.”
According to Jacobs, the Houghton club has long embraced cellular and GPS technology in its quest for perfection.
“We were one of the first clubs in South Africa to have GPS tracking in our stadium,” he said.
“We were also one of the first clubs to have a full-time analyst. Orlando Pirates has always tried to stay ahead of the game. We have to constantly be thinking outside the box of ways to improve.
“Usually when everyone else has a bit of downtime we’re up until late putting together the data for the coaches the next day.
“The data we gather goes really deep into understanding a player and his performance, and how this fits into the coach’s tactics and playing style. It really helps us to give a comprehensive picture to the coaches. Players also like feedback in order to work on their games and empower them.
“So we’ll continue to break new ground in this field.”
Pirates kick off their 2023/24 DStv Premiership campaign with an away fixture against Stellenbosch FC at Danie Craven Stadium.
