The dictionary definition for resilience is: The ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficult situations.
To say the Orlando Pirates ship, which has seen its coach voluntarily walk the plank, is going through stormy waters, is an understatement.
They have yet to adequately deal with the death of their captain and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, they have found consistency to be something approaching a four-letter word, and now this.
Former Orlando Pirates striker Jerry “Legs of Thunder” Sikhosana, a passenger on many Pirates’ ships that have either been marooned or run aground, feels that his old club often uses the derby as a pick- me-up and as a marker they should not be written off.
The derby has often been the catalyst that powers them out of their troubles.
Sikhosana, the current head coach of East London side Tornado FC, said turmoil and trouble are often second nature to Orlando Pirates but when it comes to the derby, they often convert it into triumph.
“Ahead of the Bob Save Super Bowl semifinal in 1996, we travelled to Polokwane to play Real Rovers and we were trounced 3-0 while Chiefs beat Michau Warriors. On the Wednesday ahead of the game they clouted Real Rovers 5-0 while we beat Rovers but we were still on the backfoot. They were walking around saying that they were going to score the five they banged in against Rovers plus the three we conceded. We all know how that semifinal panned out,” said Sikhosana.
“You can’t count the past results the clubs ahead of the game because it is a different ball game. Even losing a coach ahead of a derby is not such a bad thing. We went to Abidjan to face Asec Mimosa in the 1995 Caf Champions League final without a head coach as Joe Frickelton resigned on the Monday ahead of the game and we did the business.
“Pirates have built a legend on being resilient and a team that has nothing to lose is already written off. In derbies, that’s often the cream that rises to the top.”
It is pretty clear that Orlando Pirates have a well of inspiration that they dip into during times of weakness, which is the case after their demoralising 2-1 loss to Maritzburg United on Tuesday evening.
To stop the runaway Kaizer Chiefs Gautrain, Sikhosana said Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza’s powers of inspiration often makes the players believe in themselves and leave their boots on the field.
Passionate performances from Pirates have not been dime-a-dozen but Sikhosana said a Khoza pep-talk is all the love the players need.
Derailing the Chiefs locomotive and its coaches in the league has not been achieved yet.
“When the chips are down at Orlando Pirates, expect the chairman to talk to the players for the whole week leading up to the game. He used to do the same thing in my playing days but he never put pressure on us,” said Sikhosana.
“He just kept on reminding us about the importance of the derby and how it splits the country and families apart.”
Stormy seas no deterrent to Pirates
The dictionary definition for resilience is: The ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficult situations.
To say the Orlando Pirates ship, which has seen its coach voluntarily walk the plank, is going through stormy waters, is an understatement.
They have yet to adequately deal with the death of their captain and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, they have found consistency to be something approaching a four-letter word, and now this.
Former Orlando Pirates striker Jerry “Legs of Thunder” Sikhosana, a passenger on many Pirates’ ships that have either been marooned or run aground, feels that his old club often uses the derby as a pick- me-up and as a marker they should not be written off.
The derby has often been the catalyst that powers them out of their troubles.
Sikhosana, the current head coach of East London side Tornado FC, said turmoil and trouble are often second nature to Orlando Pirates but when it comes to the derby, they often convert it into triumph.
“Ahead of the Bob Save Super Bowl semifinal in 1996, we travelled to Polokwane to play Real Rovers and we were trounced 3-0 while Chiefs beat Michau Warriors. On the Wednesday ahead of the game they clouted Real Rovers 5-0 while we beat Rovers but we were still on the backfoot. They were walking around saying that they were going to score the five they banged in against Rovers plus the three we conceded. We all know how that semifinal panned out,” said Sikhosana.
“You can’t count the past results the clubs ahead of the game because it is a different ball game. Even losing a coach ahead of a derby is not such a bad thing. We went to Abidjan to face Asec Mimosa in the 1995 Caf Champions League final without a head coach as Joe Frickelton resigned on the Monday ahead of the game and we did the business.
“Pirates have built a legend on being resilient and a team that has nothing to lose is already written off. In derbies, that’s often the cream that rises to the top.”
It is pretty clear that Orlando Pirates have a well of inspiration that they dip into during times of weakness, which is the case after their demoralising 2-1 loss to Maritzburg United on Tuesday evening.
To stop the runaway Kaizer Chiefs Gautrain, Sikhosana said Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza’s powers of inspiration often makes the players believe in themselves and leave their boots on the field.
Passionate performances from Pirates have not been dime-a-dozen but Sikhosana said a Khoza pep-talk is all the love the players need.
Derailing the Chiefs locomotive and its coaches in the league has not been achieved yet.
“When the chips are down at Orlando Pirates, expect the chairman to talk to the players for the whole week leading up to the game. He used to do the same thing in my playing days but he never put pressure on us,” said Sikhosana.
“He just kept on reminding us about the importance of the derby and how it splits the country and families apart.”
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