Orlando Pirates boss Ruud Krol believes that fatigue is largely to blame for his side's loss to Santos at the weekend.

It was the first time that Bucs have tasted defeat this season, a result which has seen them relinquish their position at the top of the PSL standings.

The Dutch-born mentor has attributed the Soweto giants' lacklustre display to the fact that many of their players have not had sufficient time to recuperate after travelling on international duty.

Benson Mhlongo, Moeneeb Josephs, Teko Modise and Lucas Thwala were away with Bafana Bafana on their two-match tour of Scandanavia, while Andile Jali was with the national Under-20 side in Egypt.

"I don't think that we played our best game, but you could see that the national team players were tired," said Krol after the game.

"This is a difficult season because if you have a few national team players and a few Under-20 team players and with them going away and coming back and with only one days rest that is killing your own players.

"There was a lack of co-ordination, but four players you can't replace all four of them and of course we created chances and we are happy with that, but of course not the result."

Krol bemoaned his side's failure to convert their chances as they squandered a number of opportunities to find the back of the net.

"Santos played a defensive match and they were quick on the counter and we gave one chance away and we conceded a goal," he added.

"I think we had five or six good opportunities to score and we could have won the match if we took them."

The Pirates boss feels that in future the national team players should be given more time to rest before the PSL fixtures resume after international games.

"Of course, If you play friendly matches, I find it fantastic and we must keep it like that. But on the way back you must give your national team players more rest, so that they can be fitter . This is our first loss, but you never want to lose," he concluded.