New forthright Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic is under no illusions about Saturday night’s CAF Champions League game against Ghana’s Hearts of Oak at Ellis Park. Kick-off is at 6pm.
”It is a battle of the desperate,” says the Buccaneers’ Serbian coach. ”Both teams need a victory badly to stay in contention in the competition — and nothing less will do.”
With two teams from the group going forward to the lucrative semifinals, Pirates (in third place) and the pointless Hearts of Oak are currently trailing top teams Enyimba and Asec Mimosa — and the further loss of three points would surely mean a death knell to any ambitions of continental glory.
Sredojevic believes the fact that Hearts of Oak lost 2-0 at home to Enyimba and 3-0 away to Asec Mimosa will only make them ”more dangerous opponents this time”.
”They are a team with a proven and consistent record of success in Africa,” he added, ”who, like Pirates, have won the Champions League, as well as the Confederation Cup. They will be guarding their reputation with a jealous intensity.”
And while the Buccaneers can take heart, so to speak, from playing the Ghanaians at home, Sredojevic had some worrying tidings in regard to a disconcerting injury list that is likely to keep Lebohang Mokoena, Lucas Twala and the recuperating Benedict Vilakazi out of the game.
And with Joseph Makhanya another non-starter because of suspension, Pirates will need to muster greater character and confidence as they seek to end their nightmarish start to the season. — Sapa