Manyisa boost for Bucs
PIRATES EYE CAF WIN TO TOP GROUP B
ORLANDO Pirates coach Eric Tinkler believes Zamalek have more to fear from Sunday’s final CAF Confederation Cup group stages game in Cairo than the Buccaneers do.
The Group B leaders, each on 12 points, though Zamalek are on top on goal difference, meet having both qualified for the semifinals.
Pirates want to win on Sunday to finish top of Group B to ensure an away game first in the two-legged semifinals later this month or early in October. In Group A, Zamalek’s fellow Egyptian giants Al Ahly and Tunisian club Etoile du Sahel, level on 10 points, have also already qualified for the semis.
“I think – and this is a personal opinion, I might be wrong – that Zamalek will approach this game with more fear than us. Particularly looking at the other group.
“I think they would prefer not to meet Al Ahly in the semifinals. And I think they’ll be looking very carefully at that, and whether they want to finish top or second.
“Either way I think they’ll be extremely defensive even at home. We have found that when we’ve played the Egyptian teams, they ’ re extremely difficult to break down.”
In contrast Tinkler hinted the Buccaneers might find Etoile du Sahel the more tricky team, and might not mind meeting Al Ahly.
“I’m not particularly worried who we play in the semifinal, as long as we can preferably meet them away first,” the coach said.
Pirates ’ midfield general Oupa Manyisa limped out of training yesterday with a knock.
Tinkler revealed that goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo might be back in time for the match. Mhlongo’s knee injury has left Bucs with one uninjured keeper, Felipe Ovono, registered for the tournament.
“Oupa is fine,” Tinkler said. “He just got stood on ... on his ankle. He came off as a precaution.
Pirates lost 2-1 against Zamalek when they met the Egyptians at Mbombela Stadium in July, in a game where the Buccaneers missed a host of chances.