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Harry Redknapp praises Orlando Pirates

Harry – better than I imagined

Posted: 2011-07-23 18:13

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has heaped praise on Orlando Pirates for being ‘quality opposition’ during the 2011 Vodacom Challenge.

Spurs concluded their tour of South Africa on Saturday with a 3-0 defeat of Pirates in the Final at Coca-Cola Park, and Redknapp says the tour went better than he could have imagined.

“It’s been a good week with some tough games,” he says. “I wasn’t here for the first match, but these last two games … the opposition play fantastic football; they try to play the ball. We had to work hard.

“Overall I’ve been very impressed, especially with the standard and the technique of the opposition players. I really couldn’t have been more impressed … it’s better than I could have ever imagined.”

However, Redknapp made no secret of the fact that he no fan of these long-distance tours.

“It’s different now … it’s a world game. These days we have to travel the world; Chelsea are in Malaysia, Man United are in America. Years ago we would have stayed in England and played some lower division sides, or maybe gone up to Scotland.

“Look, we’ve really enjoyed being here but, if I’m honest, I would not want to travel all this way for pre-season.”

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Champ Toad  : 2011-07-23 18:32

Congrats to Spurs for bringing out the best from our players & for all the compliments they showered our teams with.

Hard luck to the Happy People. Good preparation for the up coming season. I thought we saw the best, good and not so good players. It's pre season, you are allowed to make mistakes but I really hope you learned from those.

Ndulula, one for the future. You need to up your work rate, u appear to be as casual as Mashego sometimes.

I think we will compete well this season.

Once a Happy Person Always a Happy Ghost

Mr T: 2011-07-23 19:09

haha haha 3 nil is a trade mark to pirates.

robby : 2011-07-23 19:30

mayambela play KAK.

nhlanhlaS: 2011-07-23 19:41

no matter what zebraz say , pirates will b a team 2 beat this cmng season . i urge all true baccuneers 2 coment construcively abt our team . that will make our team strong and us supporters unite 4 da gud of our beloved team .yes we lost ; but great signs of gud thingz to come are there , moreover tht will lost does not change tht we beat zebraforce. viva magebhula

Arineshito : 2011-07-23 20:09

sorry coach for the long but I feel lyk you still under rate african country or times

Bucselona : 2011-07-23 20:25

Spurs were extremely defensive tactically & Sox gav them so much trouble! Mayambela gav them too much respect by playing kaak, we knw he can do much better than that. Fatigue took its toll after much traveling within 3 days. I believe we hav what it takes to dominate & win all cup competitions. Up the Bucs!

Lesiba.Lakes : 2011-07-23 21:30

Praising the opponents after a convincingly defeating them. Typical mentality of Europeans to Africans. Had the scoreline been in favour of the Africans there would have been lot of excuses and negatives comments. From what Harry is saying if it was his call, he would have not travelled to South Africa so is his team. It's time the VC organizers invites our African Clubs from West and North Africa for two in succession to prepare for the African Nations Cup and other 2 year in succession with Asians and South Americans Clubs to prepare for the World Cup. The VC is the most valuable platform to give Bafana Bafana much needed boost in competing with the best around the world and a great platform to showcase our talent around the globe. Our style of play you may find that it suits more the South Americans, Asians and other continents than the Europeans. Its important for the country as well in building trading exchange with developing countries around the globe besides focusing on the Europeans only. More so that we have past experience of the Europeans in this country.

OzonyouSpurs: 2011-07-23 22:34

@Lesiba.Lakes What are you talking about? Have you ever, and I mean EVER watched an interview after a premiership match? I put it to you that you have not. Whilst it's unfortunate yet understandable that you would have resentment to Europeans. Do not waste your energy critising a man that was gracious enough to praise the opposing team. What would you have him say. 'They were rubbish, we cam all this way to slaughter them 3-0' Gentlemen do not act in such a fashion. Channel your energy elsewhere.

Bob steake, : 2011-07-24 00:09

@L,good point,wil u plz coah him/ask him not to re-write the story again,I mean he put up long Paragraphs -Quantity but the Content is...let's rather leave it there.
up da Bucs!

Shadrack AKA Mzimela: 2011-07-24 07:28

Keep crying as usual,preseason not taken serious that is what we had from this platform a short while ago keep saying that again when the league starts, this coach will give you guys heartache for a long time uyayazi ihlala kwabafileyo? Ayeye! Go berg Krol while the time allows, this is the only team that won the league by not dominating but pure luck thanks to Chiefs walloping Ajax

sipho : 2011-07-24 09:36

Chiefs is not goin 2 win the psl yet with that weak team they don't have the psl mateial 4 me so bucs can do it again

Hlalele: 2011-07-24 14:35

Keep on being carried away Champs. You'll wake up near the relegation zone this season. What's so new with this type of play? What has it won anyway. Remember Kostadin Papic? You guys seemed to be running like headless chicken and I forsee that again this season. Anyway Khosi for life.

Hlalele: 2011-07-24 14:38

Harr played what they are used to back in England, "Mind games" and Pirates fell to the trap that only fools fall to.

mmuntari : 2011-07-24 18:45

that's the thank u we get from these English teams,if Vodacom Challenge continues next season i guess Vodacom should do away with inviting English teams who see no value to the tournament,they should revert to African teams format,either African champion's League winner and Mandela Cup winners

Juan Pablo : 2011-07-24 19:12

Hlalele, jelousy is killing u my boi, bt dnt wori u wil b fyn

legs of storm : 2011-07-24 19:22

a team that did not win a single game to the final went on to win the final and went home with the Trophy. Some people's reasoning,plannig and organising skills leave a lot to be desired

Shakment : 2011-07-25 07:08

Well done Baca juju

viper: 2011-07-25 09:37

You lost to the best team boys that is no shame...as spurs they know how to be beaten by Madrid.

viper: 2011-07-25 12:08

@Lakes, I do not mean to disrespectful but I disagree. Spurs has done nothing but respected us. they fielded thier first team and played with lot of respect. No preseason can achieve what you are talking about it doesn't mater which team you bring. Teams that want competion must play in Africa and eearn the right the play against the rest of the world like Mazembe did, not just be brought games while under achieving. This is a global vilage, nowadays you can play anyone as long as you prove yourself as the best.