Micho positive about Bucs’ future

It may have been a huge disappointment for Orlando Pirates and coach Micho Sredojevic (right) to once again end the season without anything to show for their efforts, but the Serbia-born coach remains positive.

The Bucs finished second on the Absa Premiership standings for the second successive time behind Mamelodi Sundowns.

Sredojevic has decided to look on the positive side, which is that they qualified for the Caf Champions League and finished with more points than last season.

“We went all out, reminding ourselves that we had a tremendous season behind us.

“I need to give credit to the players for the performance and the results throughout the season, they gave their best.

“Yes, it is true, last year we had 55 points and this time around we finished on 57,” he said.

“Looking at everything, I would just like to express sincere appreciation to our chairman and the management. They gave us everything available, they are the unsung heroes.

“I also want to give appreciation to our technical team, coach Rhulani Mokwena and Fadlu Davids and the others. They had sleepless nights and hard-working days as servants and soldiers of the team.

“We set an important platform in the season. We are going to play in the Caf Champions League for the second successive time.

“We have the experience of the 10 matches we played this past season and it will give us a platform for the league and the Champions League next season.”

Missing out on the league title saw Bucs trophy drought extend to five years. Sredojevic said with a club as big as Pirates, trophies are expected every season.

But he believes they have built a formidable squad that will fight for silverware next season.

“We need to stretch ourselves more, we have to enter each competition with the highest possible target of winning trophies.”