As they prepare for the crucial do -or –die clash with champions’ league hoders Al Ahly at Orlando Stadium on Sunday, Bucs would have to pull a wool over the vistors eyes, if that would work.
Firstly, they have to win this game by hook or crook.
A draw or a lose nogal, would automatically mean the second star on their jersey would be a thing of the past.
Currently perched second on the log with 7 points, the visitors are topping the group with 10 points.
Bucs lost what could have been a convicing win against the current third on the log, AC Leopards from Congo last week. Their finishing department was a disgrace particularly the ageing Lennox Bacela, who huffed and puffed the simplest chances of them all. He must be kicking himself for that.
Hopefully, on Sunday he will wear his scoring boots and make amends for what he did.
Permutations or favours should be the last thing in Pirates’ players minds.
Secondly, they’ll have to dig deep in their midlefield department following the shoulder injury of Bafana player Andile Jali.
The stocky player suffered the injury during their PSL match agaisnt Polokwane City, this past week, of which they went to win with a hard fought solitary goal.
Accoding to the club’s website, he had suffered a serious injury but on Thursday Pirates said an examination has not shown any break.
Bucs physiotherapist Shiraaz Josephs says: “We found that there is no dislocation to his shoulder which is good for us.”
“We will have him under treatment and if the pain does not subside, then we will send him for an X-ray on Friday just for us to see if there is more than what we could find when we observed him on Wednesday,” he said.
Although the former PSL champs have an abundance of depth in the team, coach Rogerio De Sa and his technical team would have to make radical but fruitful changes, particularly in the middle.
Focus, determination and luck is the good recipe for success, they should know that.
After-all Pirates’ is representing the whole country and we’re fully behind them.
To the fans, let’s pack the stadium and intimidate the visitors on the field of play. Amen!
The game kicks-off at 3pm. Tickets available at the gates.
