Bucs approach cup tie with caution

Orlando Pirates coach Roger De Sa.

Johannesburg – Despite wearing the favourites tag, Soweto giants Orlando Pirates, with a fully stocked trophy cabinet, will give lesser known Maluti FET College due respect in their Nedbank Cup last 32 match on Saturday.

Coach Roger de Sa said this week he had struggled to get information on the second division Free State team, and his side would show caution in their approach to the fixture at Charles Mopeli Stadium.

“Preparations have been okay. Since the draw we’ve been trying to get as much info about the team as possible,” De Sa said.

“It’s been difficult, it’s tough to go there and play a team who will want to beat us. Our preparations have been very short.”

Pirates, lying second in the Premiership with a game in hand, beat Platinum Stars 1-0 in a league encounter on Wednesday. Four days earlier they defeated Comoros side Djabal 5-0 in their Caf Champions League preliminary round first-leg match.

Playing their third game in a week, Pirates playmaker Daine Klate believed they would need to be on top of their game in order to progress in the knockout competition.

“It’s a difficult game for us to come up against a team that we hardly know,” Klate said.

“As professionals we have to go there with the right mentality, that’s all it’s going to take.”

The Maluti outfit would be motivated to play the Soweto side, Klate predicted, insisting the visitors needed the same approach.

“We need to apply ourselves properly and I think that should do the job,” he said.

“We have enough quality to overcome a team, but we know they’re going to be determined.

“If we can match their determination I think we’ll come out on top.”

Klate said the experience of the Buccaneers side, who have won six trophies in the last two seasons, would serve them well.

“Having been in situations where we’ve won cups and won the league at Pirates, we have a lot of players that have helped with that.

“Especially in games like this, the attitude has to be spot on.

“We can’t take our foot off the pedal and think it’s going to be an easy game. We have to give it our all, do the right things on the field and not get carried away because it’s a smaller team.”

FIXTURES

Saturday: Maluti FET College v Orlando Pirates (Charles Mopeli Stadium), United FC v Chippa United (Moruleng Stadium), SuperSport United v Moroka Swallows (Lucas Moripe Stadium), University of Pretoria v Maritzburg United (Tuks Stadium), Wits v Kaizer Chiefs (Mbombela Stadium), Vardos FC v Golden Arrows (Makhulong Stadium).

Sunday: Island FC v Polokwane City (Ulundi Stadium), Free State Stars v Witbank Spurs (Charles Mopeli Stadium), Dynamos v Platinum Stars (Giyani Stadium), Bloemfontein Celtic v Milano United AFC (Free State Stadium), Mbombela United v Vasco Da Gama (Kanyamazane Stadium), Magesi FC v Jomo Cosmos (Old Peter Mokaba Stadium). – Sapa

via NorthEast Calling - NorthEast India | India's No1 online News Magazine http://www.necalling.com/bucs-approach-cup-tie-with-caution/