Pressure mounts as Pirates fight on two fronts
Pirates have been juggling between the domestic league and the Champions League to end their four-and-a-half-year trophy drought.
Milutin Sredojevic , coach of Orlando Pirates with Fadlu Davids, Assistant coach of Orlando Pirates at the Orlando Stadium. (Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix)
Orlando Pirates face two massive Caf Champions League fixtures in their bid to qualify for the quarterfinals, starting with Zimbabwean side FC Platinum in a Group B clash at the Orlando Stadium tonight.
Bucs are third in their group with five points, three behind leaders Esperance who are on eight, followed by Bucs’ last group stage opponents Horoya, on seven, while Platinum occupy the last spot having only registered one point.
Pirates have been juggling between the domestic league and the Champions League to end their four-and-a-half-year trophy drought. And they should be confident of getting a win against the Platinum Boys, who are yet to record a win.
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With the Buccaneers eyeing success in both the Absa Premiership – where they are currently at the top of the standings – and the Caf Champions League, head coach Milutin Sredojevic (right) believes getting wins against Platinum and Horoya will be good for the country.
“It would be very nice to have a South African team in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. It will be a huge morale- booster ahead of the Fifa break. We have 12 days to prepare for the match against Black Leopards during the break,” said the 54-year old coach.
Sredojevic, however, adds that their home record doesn’t look good, but has belief and trusts in his players.
“We are very disappointed and frustrated with the results – we have had 10 draws and many of them have happened in Orlando which we were fancied to have won, but it did not happen,” he added.
“We just need to provide a very important factor, which is to create more and be effective in bringing balls into dangerous areas.”
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