Suspended Pirates coach, Julio Leal at a conference(http://www.orlandopiratesfc.com/) |
On Monday 12 March 2012, Orlando Pirates Football Club suspended coach, Julio Leal with immediate effect. Despite him winning two trophies since his arrival at the club, Leal has found it difficult to settle in at Pirates. With Pirates supporters claiming that Julio knows little about the club and that he is not behind the success of the team. The media also reported that he took over a star-studded team which was capable of winning any competition in the league.
The negative hype around the suspended coach has not done good for Orlando Pirates, both on and off the field. Pirates communication department have also done matters worse by refusing to give details and comment on the suspension of coach, Leal. Though Pirates' spokesperson has refused to comment, it has been reported by the Soccer Laduma newspaper that there has been instability in the team and that the coach had lost control over his team. Rumours that Leal cannot discipline his players have portrayed Orlando Pirates in a negative light. Leal has been coach of Orlando Pirates for six month and has kept a good record of defending the MTN8 and winning the Telkom Knockout. There has been a few setbacks during his time as Pirates coach which are, Orlando Pirates has been inconsistent in its league campaign and it is knocked out of the African Champions League. (http://www.news24.co.za/)
Pirates refuses to talk
Orlando Pirates issued a statement during the announcement of the suspension of the Brazilian coach. The statement read that "Orlando Pirates Football Club has with immediate effect suspended the coach, Mr Julio Cesar Leal, as the club embarks on a fact finding investigation into reasons why, during performance evaluation sessions, the coach expressed that he could not see his way forward and offered the chairman to do what is right for the club." (http://www.orlandopiratesfc.com/).
From a communications point of view, the chairman's interpretation from the coaches expression could be that the coach wanted to leave the club. Pirates refusal to comment further on the matter does not do any good for the team as it leaves the media and club fans to make their own assumptions, which could negatively impact the team and tarnish Orlando Pirates' image. Julio Leal's last match as Pirates coach was against a weaker team in the lower league, Ethekwini Coastal, which saw Pirates win 1-0.
Orlando Pirates last five match results
- 14/03/12 Santos vs Orlando Pirates 3-0 ABSA Premiership
- 03/03/12 Recreativo Libolo(ANG) vs Orlando Pirates 1-1 Africa Champions League
- 26/02/12 Orlando Pirates vs Maritzburg United 1-0 ABSA Premiership
- 22/02/12 Platinum Stars vs Orlando Pirates 3-4 ABSA Premiership
- 19/02/12 Orlando Pirates vs Recreativo Libolo (ANG) 1-3 Africa Champions League
the psl has a new trend of suspending coaches before permanently firing them, is the suspension of Leal a sign that pirates is considering to fire him or is he going to be back to manage the team?
ReplyDeletewhy is julio being harrased about not knowing anything about soccer and not being supported by the supporters of pirates to make the team a success?
ReplyDeleteHow can you understand somebody who doesnt even know how to pronounce english words? i once read soccer laduma that the players were not happy following their home loss in CAF game against the Angolan based side, as he left the number 2 national team keeper on the bench and select the in-experience senzo meyiwa to lead the 6 area. i think pirates took a wrong decision by firing Ruud Krol, now they need his luck.
ReplyDeleteMotso, you have proved to be right as Leal has parted ways with Pirates
ReplyDeleteInnocentia, Pirates supporters were from the start devided when Leal took over as coach because some did not want the previous coach(Rudi Kroll) to leave the team
ReplyDeleteMxolisi, be aware that Pirates has won two cups this season under Leal, he shoud not be blamed for selecting inexperienced players as all players should perform well in any given circumstances
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