No time to recharge for Pirates

Two crucial games all in one week

Orlando Pirates’ punishing schedule continued as they prefaced their Telkom Knockout final on the weekend with a 2am flight to Seychelles to meet Light Stars in the second leg of their CAF Champions League preliminary round tie. Pirates left from OR Tambo International Airport at 2am yesterday for a five-hour flight to the main Seychelles island of Mahe‚ then a short 15-minute hop on to Praslin, for today’s match-up where they will enjoy a 5-1 lead. The Buccaneers‚ the 2013 losing finalists against Egyptian giants Al Ahly‚ made their return to Champions League football after a fiveyear absence in last week’s first leg at Orlando Stadium. They should expect a comfortable passage through the second leg (kick-off is at 4pm in the Seychelles‚ 2pm SA time) against the Indian Ocean islanders at Amitie Stadium‚ though coach Milutin Sredojevic said Pirates were leaving nothing to chance. “The squad is ready and the players are showing that they all want to win this away match‚” Sredojevic said. “We don’t undermine any team – this isn’t a Pirates thing to do. We respect every opponent that we face – this is why we are approaching this match the same way as we would approach any league match. While we carry all the expectations from our supporters to perform‚ Light Stars come into this game without any pressure.

“But be that as it may‚ we are a team used to pressure.” The Buccaneers return to SA tomorrow with just two days to turn their attention to Saturday’s Telkom Knockout final against Baroka at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth (6pm).

‘‘ But be that as it may be, we are a team that is used to pressure