‘Sea Robbers’ hope to ‘Pirate’ their way into the Nedbank Cup quarters
Pirates are pinning their hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup. While Chiefs are buoyed by their successive three clean sheets which they hope can take them over the fence.
Orlando Pirates, better known to their avid fans as the Sea Robbers, are looking forward to ‘pirating’ their way to the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals and maybe ‘stealing’ their passage to the final.
The Buccaneers’ Spanish coach José Luis Riveiro made it clear at a press conference at the headquarters of the Premier Soccer League in Parktown that his boys were in the cup tournament not as ‘Father Christmas’ but as a team that was in it to win it.
“As much as we respect all the opponents in the Nedbank Cup tournament, we’re in the competition to win it and we will do all it takes to win the second trophy of the season for our cabinet. We will take each game, including those outside the cup competition, seriously and aim for a win.
“We want to be in the next round of this prestigious cup but the only way to reach that goal is to ensure we get the results in each level of the competition and that’s what we’re precisely going to do when we meet the Venda Football Academy side over the weekend [March 11 at the Orlando Stadium],” Riveiro said.
The Spaniard said people may label his side as favourites in the competition but he would not allow that mentality to creep into his players’ minds. He added this may lead to complacency which may end up costing them the game. “I want them focused all the time with one thing in mind, to advance to the next level.”
Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Dillion Sheppard said his AmaKhosi side had been buoyed by their three wins with a clean sheet and the boys look forward to continuing from where they left off in the DStv Premiership.
Coach Arthur ‘10111’ Zwane was reportedly unwell with a bout of flu. When there were calls for Zwane to be fired following a string of losses before their recent wins, Sheppard said collectively they had closed ranks around the coach.
“We did that when calls mounted and we strategised as a team to give him all the support he ever needed and one of those strategies was to endeavour to win our games. I think we have done that and we hope to take that mentality as well to the Nedbank Cup this weekend,” he added.
The Phefeni Glamour Boys will be up against the Motsepe Foundation Championship side Casric Stars on Sunday [March 12] at the FNB Stadium.
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