PSL giants in tricky CAF ties
STAR FANCIES CLUB’S CHANCES
ORLANDO Pirates take African football seriously, their players and coach said ahead of their first hurdle in the CAF Confederation Cup against Uganda Revenue Authority SC at Orlando Stadium tomorrow at 5pm.
Pirates caretaker coach Eric Tinkler said the Buccaneers’ first objective was to win the Confed, and the second to go as far as possible as a growing experience with a view to launching a challenge next year on the more prestigious Champions League.
Midfielder Mpho Makola said, having become more of a first team regular now than when Bucs reached the 2013 Champions League final, he hopes to undergo the same growing process as he witnessed in his teammates during that campaign.
Tinkler admitted Pirates have not managed to secure current video footage on their obscure opponents from Uganda.
“We ’ ve obviously found it difficult to gain information on URA. We have a general idea how they lined up against the team from Madagascar [ASSM Elgeso],” the coach said.
“We know one of their main players [Jonathan Mugabi] will be out due to suspension; he got a red card in the first leg. We’ve managed to get certain information on players who will be dangerous, and we have a general idea of the formation they ’ ve been utilising.
“The video footage we managed to secure was a bit old — it was the previous coach and players. So that didn’t help us at all.”
Tinkler did not want to criticise former club Bidvest Wits for fielding a B team against Swaziland’s Royal Leopards, spurning a 3-0 lead from the first leg to be knocked out of the Confed.
The former Bafana Bafana midfielder said it is crucial the remaining three SA teams in African competition – Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs are involved in Champions League matches tomorrow – acquit themselves well to justify the extra two continental places granted the country by CAF this year.
“If we find players picking up injuries or looking fatigued, then obviously we need to rotate. And I’m happy we have enough depth in our squad to do that,” Tinkler said.
Makola said: “I think Pirates take competing in Africa more seriously than anyone.
“In 2013 we were disappointed to reach the final against Al Ahly and not win it. This season we sat down and discussed our priorities as a team, and the Confed was top of our list — we said we need to win it.”
“Pirates do not have current video on their obscure opponents from Uganda