Bucs taking no chances

JONEVRET WANTS EC BEES SCALP

EC BEES and Orlando Pirates were born 77 years apart which means we have another David v Goliath duel on our hands when the two sides meet on Sunday at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in the the Nedbank Cup first round.

Pirates, formed in 1937, have seen it all in the game. On the other hand, ABC Motsepe League outfit and King William’s Town, Eastern Cape-based EC Bees are still a baby in football having been founded in 2014.

This will be seen as the perfect chance for Pirates to end their 12-match winless run and Bucs coach Kjell Jonevret said this week that they will go all out to avoid an embarrassing defeat. “We have a cup game on Sunday, and it is very important for us. So we will absolutely go 100% focused,” said Jonevret following his third successive 1-1 draw this week. “I know how it is with the games everyone expects you to win. I hate them, because they (Bees) are going to fight like never before. You don’t really know how the stadium and the pitch is. The cup could be our chance to win silverware this season. Pirates have come back from 1-0 down in all three 1-1 draws, against Polokwane City, Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United. Jonevret said this showed character. However, Bees coach Chippa Njedu, 37, has warned Pirates not to take his charges lightly.

“Pirates must prepare properly for us just as much as we are going to prepare for them,” commented Ngedu.

Bees will have some PSL experience on the bench in the form of ex-Jomo Cosmos defender Mokete Tsotetsi. In terms of their playing staff they have the likes of former Chippa United striker Welcome Qalanto, now 36, and they have just signed 23-year-old Siyabulela Shai, who has also played for Chippa United and Mamelodi Sundowns.