At first glance, Tottenham Hotspur manager Martin Jol conjures up a picture of an imposing Rottweiler. Even when a rare smile surfaces on his sturdy jaw, he leaves little doubt he means business.
And on Saturday, when Spurs take on Orlando Pirates in the finale to the Vodacom Challenge series of pre-season friendlies at Loftus, there can be little doubt about the ferocity of purpose with which the Netherlands-born manager will be barking orders to help complete a proclaimed intention to leave South Africa with an unbeaten record from their three matches.
On arrival at OR Tambo International Airport, the Spurs manager declared that while his team might not be able to emulate the ”Invincibles” who were here in 1962 in scoring 13 goals in three games, he would deem it a job well done to emerge with three victories from the three matches against Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.
Having accounted for Pirates and Chiefs by a 2-1 margin in Durban and Cape Town respectively, the north London club will now be intent on imprinting a ”mission accomplished” stamp on the tour.
And, to emphasise the task facing Pirates, who qualified for the right to play Spurs a second time by beating Chiefs 1-0 in Port Elizabeth on Thursday, Jol is likely to field his strongest line-up against the Buccaneers on this occasion.
The Spurs team that Pirates faced in Cape Town contained eight changes from that which accounted for Chiefs — and gave match time to several of the fringe players in the touring squad.
On this occasion, however, Jol, in a characteristic fashion, is likely to throw all his heavy artillery into the fray and test Pirates to the limit in the form of returning stars of the calibre of Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane — as well as R190-million new signing Darren Bent.
The Buccaneers, to their credit, showed improved form in a deserved victory against Chiefs and will look to the success the Amakhosi achieved in similar circumstances in the last game of the Vodacom series last year against Manchester United.
But, in all likelihood, the bite of Jol and his more experienced and composed combination should be sufficient to cement a double against the Buccaneers — effectively wiping out memories of a defeat suffered when Spurs were in South Africa four seasons ago. — Sapa