Michaelson Ntokozo Gumede

By Ntokozo Gumede

Journalist


Pirates have forgotten humiliation – Yeye

Whenever SuperSport United host Orlando Pirates at the Mbombela Stadium, one can only imagine that images of Pirates being humiliated 6-1 in 2016 become fresh in the memory of the Buccaneers supporters.


But that is a thing of the past for Matsatsantsa midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane, as SuperSport make their final preparations ahead of tomorrow’s Absa Premiership clash in Mbombela.

“It is water under the bridge, we have played them a few times after that and we don’t even think about it. We are focusing on what’s happening now,” Letsholonyane said.

“They are playing well and we are coming off a win and are motivated. We are not thinking about what happened two years ago or 10 years ago, it is about the here and now. Our situation now is that we want to collect maximum points,” he added.

READ: No guaranteed game time for Lebese at SuperSport

“Yeye” is impressed how Pirates have managed to turn the corner since that heavy defeat as they have now positioned themselves as title contenders and are doing well in the Caf Champions League. The veteran midfielder says the appointments of Milutin Sredojevic, Rhulani Mokwena and Fadlu Davids have made Bucs a better team.

“They have a quality technical team, they are football people, their knowledge has built the team to be one of the best teams around after a very long time and now we can see there is structure and organisation and the players are enjoying themselves.”

Meanwhile, his team-mate Mxolisi Macuphu says United cannot afford to make the same mistakes they made against Golden Arrows last time out when they threw away a 2-0 lead. They however emerged 3-2 winners in the end.

“I don’t mean to put it in a bad way but when you play better opponents who are competing for the league, it is going to be difficult.

“We cannot afford to slip up if we get a lead, we should defend it and get the points. It is a big clash and with all respect to Orlando Pirates, it is a game of two teams and anything can happen.”

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