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Big Squad is Pirates’ Main Downfall: Gavin Lane

Big Squad is Pirates' Main Downfall: Gavin Lane

Former Orlando Pirates defender, Gavin “Stability Unit” Lane says it is not easy for any technical team to manage a big squad and that could be the main reason behind Pirates’ struggles in recent years.


The mighty Buccaneers have improved drastically since the arrival of Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic in 2017. Under the Serb’s tutelage, they narrowly missed out twice on lifting the league title with Mamelodi Sundowns pipping them to to the coveted prize in back to back seasons. They also lost the Telkom Knockout final to Baroka in December 2018.

Prior to Micho’s arrival, they lost two back to back Nedbank Cup finals against SuperSport United. Micho has left to take over the coaching reins at Zamalek and the technical team is now led by 34-year old Rhulani Mokwena.

Lane who scored in Pirates’ triumphant CAF Champions League finals in 1995 says they teams must trim their squads:


“We are still playing good soccer but there’s something missing and I personally believe that most of the squads, not just Pirates’, have got 40 to 50 players and it’s so difficult as a coach when you’ve got 50 players coming to training. In our days you had 24 odd players and the coaches could work on the skills and know the strengths and weaknesses of each individual player and now when you’re coming to training you’ve got seven coaches for different things. They’re taking the players over there for and you are here, how do you as the head coach know the strengths and weaknesses of  each and every player.”

Watch the full interview below:

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