Home comforts boost Bucs hopes
Gabuza in top form may yet be the man to get Zamalek to leak goals
THERE is much at stake when Orlando Pirates and Zamalek clash in a CAF Confederation Cup Group B clash at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit today (3pm).
Scores will be settled and players will have to sweat blood to help their team get a win.
Both clubs know each other well from their meeting in the group stages of the 2013 CAF Champions League, in which the Buccaneers won the two leg tie 5-3 to advance to the next stage of the competition.
Pirates will be looking to prove a point – that the 4-1 score-line against the side from Egypt two years ago wasn’t a fluke, while Zamalek will be hoping that history doesn’t repeat itself after losing away and winning at home 2-1.
Today, however, is a different competition, a whole new ball game, but it is as huge as the Champions League.
Pirates know that winning at home is vital. And scoring more than two goals without conceding will put them on the right track for the return leg in Cairo as getting a win in Egypt has proven to be a difficult task.
They have the players to do the job, though, and to be at this stage of the tour nament, proves it.
With striker Thamsanqa Gabuza on form, fans can expect a feast of goals from Pirates.
Gabuza has been a bench warmer at Pirates since joining from Golden Arrows in 2013, but he has finally proven his worth at the Soweto giants having scored three goals in four starts in the CAF Confederation.
His blistering for m has helped the team through the group stages.
His brilliance in front of goal led to a Bafana Bafana call up by coach Shakes Mashaba for the CHAN qualifiers, where he impressed.
Gabuza hit form at the right time, adding to a pool of goal poachers in Eric Tinkler’s team.
He will battle it out with other stars like Kermit Erasmus, Lehlohonolo Majoro and Lennox Bacela for a place in the starting line-up.
Zamalek also have a dangerman of their own in Basem Morsi. The forward has scored 13 goals in their domestic league and is one of the key members in the White Knights’ squad, along with 23-year-old midfielder Omar Gaber.
Gaber is Zamalek’s top goalscorer in the competition with three goals.
The two players will have to be kept in check by the Pirates back four, and stop them threatening Brighton Mhlongo’s goals.
Both teams come into this clash following victory in their first group matches and are tied on three points. The winner of today’s match won’t only be topping the group, but will have the bragging rights of most matches won between them.