Sandilands made an error which led to a Highlands Park goal in the Buccaneers’ opening match of the season at Orlando Stadium over the weekend.
It’s always difficult for coaches when goalkeepers make an error – take them out and their confidence drops or keep them in and risk having a nervous defence.
Former Pirates goalkeeper John Tlale says if it was up to him, he would play Sandilands.
“It’s a difficult situation that Wayne is in and if you take him out, then you will kill his spirit, but at the same time you need to protect him. If you take him out, then he will think that you took him out because of the mistake,” Tlale says.
“If it was up to me I would play him, because we all know that he is a good keeper. I would play him to build his confidence. The problem is if the team loses the supporters will be on his back even if it’s not his fault. You know how supporters are.”
Tlale says he was pleased to see the Pirates players comforting and encouraging Sandilands.
“I was happy to see his teammates, the likes of Happy Jele, encouraging him. They win as a team and lose as a team. It shows that Pirates is a team and that mentality is going to take them far. It tells you that Pirates is not a one-man team.”