It was dubbed the Miyagi vs Karate Kid contest as the teacher (Steve Komphela) came up against his student (Rulani Mokwena) but the Orlando Pirates and Golden Arrows game produced a goalless draw in an Absa Premiership game played at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Wednesday night.
Pirates again huffed and puffed on the night as they struggled to breach the well-organised defence of Arrows.
This result extended Pirates’ winless streak to six matches in all competitions and caretaker coach Rulani Mokwena
Arrows looked to steak the game with counter-attacks and never got to trouble Pirates by playing on the front foot as expected from their tactical approach.
Komphela says this was a valuable point on the road for Arrows but also concedes the match was not easy on the eye.
Mokwena and his technical team also continued to tinker with the starting line-up making five changes to the team which started in the previous game.
In the four games that Mokwena has been in charge since the departure of Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic to Egyptian giants Zamalek, Bucs are yet to win a game.
Arrows find themselves sixth on the log with seven points from four games.
In the second game they were hammered 5-0 at Bloemfontein Celtic but they’ve managed to pick up four points in their last two matches against Chippa United and Pirates before the international break.
Komphela has praised the mental strength of his side. – Report by Velile Mnyandu
