Respected former Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper John Tlale has suggested some important changes for Orlando Pirates' goalkeeping department.
Tlale, who was part of Bafana Bafana's 1996 Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad, says it would be wise for the Soweto giants to release reserve keeper Joris Delle at the end of the season.
The Frenchman arrived at Pirates from Feyenoord at the beginning of the season but has so far done little to impress the club's technical team.
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Wayne Sandilands has been preferred ahead of him and in his four appearances this season Delle has already conceded 11 goals.
Tlale, who won the 2002/03 Castle Premiership title with Pirates after joining the club midway through that season, believes the Sea Robbers need to strengthen their goalkeeping options.
"No, I don't think so [that Delle should be kept] my brother because we all know that Pirates is a big team," Tlale tells snl24.com/kickoff.
"So to get in that position, especially in the last line of defence, it becomes more difficult. So there's too much pressure on him because of the goals that he conceded.
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"I think Pirates need to get a back-up, a very strong somebody who can go there, and whoever if he's injured, take the position and keep it to make it his position.
"He was under pressure first of all from the supporters. Secondly he conceded soft goals sometimes. So that was always going to be a big challenge for him.
"You know in big teams like Chiefs, Pirates, Sundowns the first impression lasts to the supporters. So if you make a blunder I don't think supporters will have confidence in you.
"Sometimes it's adaptation. Maybe he struggled to adapt this side. The style of play that we are playing this side, maybe he can't handle."
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Asked if he thought Maritzburg United's Richard Ofori should replace Delle, Tlale approved of the idea.
"I think it's very important, especially at a big team like Orlando Pirates. Somebody who knows the culture of South African football. Somebody who is streetwise in a way," he explains.
"Because where he comes from [Delle] most of the time they play direct football so maybe it suits him. So I think Ofori can fit. Look at Ghana, they are not different to the style of play that we play here in Mzansi. Almost the same style of play.
"I think he can be first choice even though it's not going to be easy. It's going to take some time for him to settle because he's got his own mistakes as well."
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