Shocking defeat has coach packing

The Orlando Pirates coaching post might be vacant today following the declaration by head coach, Muhsin Ertugral, on Tuesday evening that he would hand in his resignation.
The Turkish-born mentor made the rash decision soon after his troops were humiliated by SuperSport United after a 6-1 hiding in a rain-soaked Premier Soccer League match played at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The 6-1 drubbing was The Buccaneers first of the season, but their greatest league loss in their 80-year history as the Soweto giants. The loss, however, matches the same scoreline to Mamelodi Sundowns in the BP Top 8 in 1990.
Ertugral said they were responsible for the loss and they don’t deserve to don the Orlando Pirates badge.
“I can only speak to my chairman (Irvin Khoza) tomorrow (Wednesday) and hand in my resignation. In my whole coaching career, I have never suffered such a humiliating defeat. I have to be honest and take responsibility and resign. How can one face the millions of Orlando Pirates supporters the next day after suffering such a shocking loss,” said a visibly angry Ertugral.
Pirates left Mpumalanga yesterday morning and Ertugral, who retained a house in Cape Town for a number of years, was expected to possibly meet Khoza yesterday.
The Buccaneers led 1-0 at the interval through Tendai Ndoro, who took his goal tally to seven to lead the Golden Boot Award. The Zimbabwean hitman went on to miss a penalty later in the second half.
The Buccaneers, however, let in a staggering six goals in the second half, which left Ertugral fuming.
“I have never seen such a disastrous 45 minutes like this in my whole coaching career. I don’t know in the history of Pirates if they have ever lost by this margin,” he said after the match.
Reneilwe “Yeye” Letsholonyane had one of his best performances since moving from Kaizer Chiefs to Matsatsantsa a Pitori, netting the opener before setting up a
couple of goals for the hosts as they
stormed to victory.
Other SuperSport goals came courtesy of Michael Boxall (2) while Thuso Phala, Bradley Grobler and Jeremy Brockie scored one each.
Stuart Baxter, SuperSport coach, thanked the enthusiast Mpumalanga crowd for rallying behind his team.
“The reception we have received since we arrived in Mpumalanga has been overwhelming. SuperSport is sponsored by a television channel and we are trying to expand that brand. That’s why we are bringing five games to Mpumalanga to expand that brand,” said Baxter.
SuperSport now tackles Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarter-finals of the Telkom Knockout on Saturday evening while Pirates will host newly promoted side, Highlands Park, in the same competition