We’re not desperate to beat Pirates – Vilakazi
Mamelodi Sundowns star player Sibusiso Vilakazi says the defending Absa Premiership champions want nothing less than a win when they face Orlando Pirates tonight but are not desperate to get one over their rivals.
Sibusiso Vilakazi of Mamelodi Sundowns (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
The Orlando Stadium, otherwise known as the spiritual home of South African football, will host the capital city giants and the Buccaneers where Sundowns are looking to narrow down Kaizer Chiefs’ lead to six points while Pirates are finding their feet under new coach Josef Zinnbauer.
READ: Please come, Pirates coach Zinnbauer tells Sundowns
Vilakazi said: “It is not a point of desperation, we just have to be composed. We have been in this situation two seasons back and the previous situations where we found ourselves slacking with points behind. It is one of those where we have to dig more into our systems and try to catch up. We have to deliver and we have seen this movie before, it is just different characters.
“It is not easy though, the team on top is putting the pressure by putting on points on the table. I don’t think it is desperate times for us at this point, we just have to take every game as it comes. It is interesting, let’s see how we go about this because can still dig deep. Every season we are entitled to win trophies here, it is a continuous thing,” he added.
The former Bidvest Wits captain reckons that both sides are favourites to walk away with all three points tonight, particularly because Bucs have rediscovered their form in front of goals while Masandawana are on a 12-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
“Both teams are favourites at this point because we don’t know how the game is going to open up so it is more about talks right now and we’ll see at the game,” said Vilakazi.
“They have been a high-scoring team and it shows that the confidence is back. We can see that they are starting to get their rhythm and they are trying to play catch-up. We have also been having the winning momentum and we are trying to maintain that.”
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