The Buccaneers will return home and continue with their preparations with their first competitive match of the 2025-26 season being the MTN8 quarter-final against Polokwane City on August 2.
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Granada coach Jose Rojo Martin has weighed in on his team’s display against Orlando Pirates following the Spanish side’s 2-0 loss to the PSL giants.
Pirates ended their pre-season tour on a positive note when late goals from Patrick Maswanganyi and Relebohile Mofokeng gave them a 2-0 victory over the Spanish second division club.
It was their first win on the tour after starting with a 2-0 loss to Bolton Wanderers before draws with Cyprus champions Pafos and Spanish club Las Palmas.
What surprised Granada coach about Pirates?
Martin was surprised with the quality of Pirates, expressing his shock at how well-drilled Abdeslam Ouaddou’s team are, plus the way they are able to seamlessly play out from the back.
“Done the research. Watched the match against Las Palmas. He was quite shocked with the dynamic of the team, the intensity and the quantity of the players,” the Martin’s translator told SuperSport TV after the game.
“He's a little mad because of the result. He had to prepare a team to win here and for them it's a very important game to prepare for the new season. The coach likes how the team [Pirates] works together. He likes the pressing, the intensity.
Bucs out to build from positive Spain tour
“He likes how the team [Pirates] plays with the goalkeeper. How the goalkeeper is involved in every situation, it's like a block. He was quite satisfied with the whole squad.”
Pirates have been building up ahead of the new season in what was another visit to Spain in pre-season, having done so in the last two years.
