Orlando Pirates will go for broke and attack when they face defending Absa Premiership champions SuperSport United in their top-of the-table clash at Atteridgeville’s Super Stadium on Wednesday night.
That was the message from Bucs coach Ruud Krol after his side lost their unbeaten league record when they lost 1-0 at the Orlando Stadium to a fired-up Santos last Saturday.
Pirates’ strike force was way off target against Santos and Krol realises this is a crunch clash between the teams sharing the top spot in the Premiership.
Bucs and United head the standings with 19 points from 10 fixtures and although there is still a long way to go, this game could go a long way in deciding the eventual destination of the championship.
Krol also realises that two draws and a loss in Bucss last three matches was not good enough for a club that has big hopes of dethroning United. But a win on Wednesday will go a long way to underline their championship potential.
Said the Buccaneers spokesman, Mickey Modisane: ”We learnt a lesson form Santos. The coach knows the team is under pressure and there is not a better match to bounce back than to go away and beat the champions in their backyard.
”To this end the coach has promised to take the game to United and attack them. This is our Plan B for United.”
Krol fielded Terror Fanteni and Gert Schalkwyk as his strikers against Santos and both fired blanks. Waiting in the wings are Dennis Masina, Siphelele Mthembu, Ndumiso Mabena and Katlego Mashego.
Modisane also stressed to his club´s fans that the loss to Santos was not a train smash and that Bucs will regain their winning ways.
”It was a bit of a wake up call but it is not the end of the world for us or our title ambitions. But the game against SuperSport is crucial.
”Beating them at the Super Stadium will go a long way in rebuilding our title challenge.”
What has worried Krol is the recent sluggish form of three of his four Bafana Bafana stars in defender Lucas Thwala, holding midfielder and skipper Benson Mhlongo, and playmaker Teko Modise.
The trio looked tired against Santos after playing in both Bafana’s disappointing Scandinavian tour matches where Bafana were beaten 1-0 by Norway in Oslo and by lowly Iceland by the sane margin in Reykjavik last week.
Modise in particular looked tired and needs a break. The only player not affected by Bafana’s trip to Norway and Iceland was goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs who was again in control of his penalty area, despite a poor showing by his defenders.
But said Modisane: ”We hope the three outfield players get enough time to rest before the big top of the log clash against United and will be back to their best.”
Bucs are minus fringe players Joseph Makhanya, Oupa Manyisa and newcomer Nduduzi Myanda, who are on duty in Zimbabwe for a South African Development squad playing in the annual Cosafa Cup.
United coach Gavin Hunt is quietly confident after the way his side tore Mpumalanga Black Aces 5-0 in Witbank at the weekend.
”We cannot rest and think the job is done after beating Aces. Pirates will be a whole new ball game and will be desperate to make
amends for losing their unbeaten record.
”It is going to be an interesting 90 minutes.”
The other big match on the Wednesday night calendar is the showdown at Orlando Stadium where Kaizer Chiefs host Moroka Swallows in a Soweto Derby. The Birds revived their hopes of upsetting their arch rivals Amakhosi after defeating Maritzburg United 2-0 at Dobsonville at the weekend.
Chiefs appear to have regained their fighting spirit with a sparkling 2-2 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns in a highly charged clash at the Super Stadium at the weekend has also give Amakhosi fans renewed hope of challenging for honours this season.
BidVest Wits, the only side left with their unbeaten record intact, will be hoping to stretch that record to 11 matches when they host struggling Aces at the Milpark Stadium. — Sapa