Bacela’s advice to Pirates ahead of Espérance clash
Former Orlando Pirates striker Lennox Bacela says the Buccaneers need to win the off-the-field battles in North Africa for them to be victorious in their Caf Champions league match against Espérance Sportive de Tunis this afternoon.
Orlando Pirates players dejected after losing on penalties during the 2019 Nedbank Cup match between Black Leopards and Orlando Pirates at Thohoyandou Stadium. (Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix)
“The most important think when you play in North Africa is to look out for those intimidating things they come up with before the game and during the game,” Bacela told Phakaaathi.
“We come out of those mind games by focusing on the game, more than what was happening around us (in Tunisia) the guys need to switch off on what’s happening around them, and focus on the task at hand.”
The 35-year-old added that Pirates need to put Esperance under pressure from the first whistle and try to control the game from the first half.
“Pirates have a good team I think they can win,” Bacela continued. “Most of the times the North Africans will try and win the game as quickly as possible, if the guys can focus on making sure they first few minutes of the game they grab the game by the neck they can go on and win, I think physically we are quicker than them and they can maintain the team and win the game.”
Pirates and Esperance played to a goalless draw in the first leg at the Orlando Stadium.
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