Orlando Pirates co-coach Fadlu David praised his sides “fighting spirit” to secure the win over AmaZulu in the DStv Premiership at the Orlando Stadium on Thursday evening.

The Buccanerers ended the year on a high after they managed to claim a hard-fought 2-1 win over AmaZulu at the Orlando Stadium through a brace by Kwame Peprah.

The win sees the Buccaneers end their in second place in the DStv Premiership with 30 points from 19 games, while Usuthu end the year in fifth place on the table with 25 points from 20 matches.

“Our thoughts are with Kwanda in relation to our start getting the injury and then conceding the goal where he’s struggling, where he’s hobbling, where he’s not able to do the defensive action and we concede,” Davids told SuperSport TV.

“That put us on the back foot but then we really gained dominance, putting in the structure in terms of our build-up and we were able pass through the lines.

“But in that first phase when we took control, we did not occupy the position, a ball coming into the box, the second ball and we were not there in position, to counter-press, we fixed that in the second part of the first-half and we got the goal.

“So really proud of the players, it’s been a tough camp, we’ve been together all this time and that togetherness and the fighting spirit really came through in the end,” he said.

“It was really important with the four defence line to really stretch them as wide as possible, to be able to occupy the position, I think that is important, not only in the wide positions but in the vertical corridors of the pitch to have those three positions occupied.

“And then we’re able to progress the ball from the defence line, into the midfield line, into the ten line and then penetrate their defence line, to have those positions, then you’re able to counter-press.

“So yes the width is important but also the positions in terms of our build-up to be able to create chances and score goals.

“We reached the 30-point mark I think four games too late, at this stage [we should] perhaps be close to 38, 40 but we know it’