ALL roads lead to Polokwane for the much awaited 2025 Carling Knockout Cup finale.
Representing Soweto- is none other than Orlando Pirates who face the Bloemfontein outfit Marumo Gallants, at Peter Mokaba Stadium, on Saturday.
Kick-off 6pm.
The sold-out affair will see Bucs who have dominated cup games this season and are doing well in the CAF assignments, go into this game knowing they’ve suffered a lot under Gallants, who beat them twice in the league this season.
Yes, it’s all about settling the score.
According to former Bucs midfield maestro Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo, we know they’re a strong team, but they’re also vulnerable.
“Our job is to put them in situations where those vulnerabilities show, and we’re working hard on that,” he was quoted.
“They play good football, but when they attack, they leave fewer numbers behind. We want to exploit that, and at the same time keep the ball, because they become uncomfortable when you keep possession.”
Standing at just 1,61m tall, the little maestro noted: “This is another big opportunity for us. I started winning trophies with Pirates in the Nedbank Cup, so it’s motivating for all of us to write our names in the history books and put the team on the map.”
But that won’t be a walk on the park as Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, who boast nine players in the Bafana Bafana team for the AFCON Cup, says he’s his charges are ready to grind against Gallants and all players are 1000% fit.
“It is important to involve all the squad members to keep them motivated and to win games,” says former Gallants coach.
“I always say you can win a game with 11 players, but to win competitions and trophies, you need the entire dressing room. For now, we are focusing on the training and tactical periodization,” Ouaddou was quoted during training recently.
Ouaddou is a former Moroccan international and captain, he earned 68 caps for the Atlas Lions and played top-flight football in several leading European leagues such as Fulham and Olympiacos.
On the status of readiness, both the Mayor of Polokwane and Premier of Limpopo, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, says its all system go as they look forward welcoming thousands of fans and tourists in the city.
Image (Marumo Gallant’s midfield maestro Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo says since they’ve twice between Bucs, they want to maintain that standard).
