Zinnbauer says he’s hungrier to win more trophies

ORLANDO Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer says “I am hungrier than before” to compete and win titles after inspiring the Buccaneers to the MTN8 crown last term, despite the team finishing third on the DStv Premiership log standings.

After impressively guiding the Bucs to a third spot finish on the league standings in the previous term, despite having taken charge towards the end of 2019, a lot was expected from the German in his first full campaign last season.

Zinnbauer appeared to heed the call, inspiring Pirates to the Wafa Wafa competition honours, thanks to four straight wins. But injuries and inconsistent form in the league saw them finish third.

That result, and defeat to Raja Casablanca in the quarter-finals of the

CAF Confederation Cup, didn’t go down well with ‘the Ghost’, and many have been calling for his head during this pre-season.

The 51-year-old coach has since vowed that he’s hungrier to win more trophies in the new season. And he may have to start with the Carling Black Label Cup when they host arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs at the Orlando Stadium this Sunday.

“The (CAF) experience was important for me last season. Raja wasn’t important for me according to the results. It was a difficult result because we don’t necessarily (always) get such a result.

But it was an important experience,” Zinnbauer said.

“Travelling and what happens behind closed doors helps us. But personally, I am hungrier than before.

“Together with the players, we’ve now got more information. We are coming closer together and united as a team going forward.”

In ensuring that Zinnbauer has enough personnel to help him steer the Sea Robbers to glory in the new season, the club bolstered its technical team with Mandla Ncikazi, the second assistant coach, and goalkeeper coach Sjoerd Woudenberg.

Ncikazi will be Zinnbauer’s deputy alongside Fadlu Davids. He had an impressive stint with Golden Arrows last term, inspiring the side to fourth spot on the standings, while Woudenberg is Jyri Nieminen’s replacement.

“We are happy with the staff members that we got,” Zinnbauer said. “Mandla has experience as an assistant and head coach. We didn’t have a goalkeeper coach for a long time last season. We also lost an analyst and individual coach.”

Zinnbauer continued: “When I arrived at the club, I asked the club to give me a second assistant coach. And now we have that. We have more staff now – more eyes on the field and we can now manage the training sessions easier than before.”

Pirates’ clash against Chiefs in the ‘Beer Cup’ will also allow the German to see his new recruits for the first time in a competitive match.

They signed Kwanda Mngonyama, Monnapule Saleng, Bandile Shandu and Goodman Mosele.

Pirates are hosting their pre-season camp at Royal Maranga Hotel in Phokeng. Zinnbauer reckons that as soon as the new players adapt in the team, they should be able to compete on all fronts.

“I hope the new signings will put us a step ahead,” he said. “But they also need time. It’s different when they come to a club like Orlando Pirates. ‘Tyson’ (Thulani Hlatshwayo) is a big player but also needed time to adjust when he came to Pirates.”