Milford boss encouraged despite Pirates defeat in Premiership debut

Milford FC head coach Xanti Pupuma believes his newly promoted side can enjoy a successful season if they reproduce the performance that earned praise despite a 2-0 defeat by Orlando Pirates.

Milford made their Betway Premiership debut against the reigning champions at a packed Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday afternoon. Although the KwaZulu-Natal club left without a point, Pupuma said his players had shown they could compete at the highest level of South African football.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game, I think my boys didn’t embarrass themselves in fact if anything probably they were fortunate to get the first goal,” Pupuma told SuperSport TV after the match.

Orlando Pirates took the lead before Milford were able to establish control for long periods of the contest. Pupuma felt his players responded well and created a platform from which they could have challenged for an equaliser.

“After that, we controlled the game for most parts I think and we really were looking for it and again just a slight small misjudgement led to the second goal which by that time it really didn’t matter because we were trying to get an equaliser.

“Tried to change the shape a little bit, but it didn’t work. Look, there’s a lot of positives to take from the game, I’m not stressed not worried, I think if we can play this the whole season we’ll be fine,” he added.

The Milford coach attempted to alter his team’s shape as they chased a way back into the match, but the tactical change did not produce the desired result. He nevertheless insisted that the opening-day loss had not damaged his confidence in the squad.

Pupuma also believes Milford will be better equipped when the two teams meet again in the reverse fixture in Umhlathuze, KwaZulu-Natal. The encounter at the Orlando Amstel Arena was his first visit to the venue, and he hopes to return there in a cup competition and have another opportunity to test his team against Pirates.

“It’s the first time I was here, I’m hoping to come back again for a cup or so to try and prove a few things. But I’m hoping to give them a difficult time in Umhlathuze when they come around, our focus now is the two home games,” he added.

Milford’s immediate priority is now to make home advantage count. Pupuma said the club must collect points from its next two fixtures, while maintaining that the performance against the Buccaneers offered grounds for optimism.

“We really must get something, but if we can play like this we’ll definitely get something from the two home games.”