Bucs are up for a fight, says Kjell
SOWETO DERBY: KOMPHELA EXPECTING A BIG BATTLE
Jonevret admits to knowing very little about his opponents.
An Orlando Pirates team who are aggressive, offensive and tight at the back is what new Buccaneers coach Kjell Jonevret has promised ahead of the Soweto derby against old rivals, Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday afternoon.
Jonevret, who joined the Buccaneers just over a week ago, has been ticking all the right boxes in his speeches and seems to have inspired the confidence in the supporters who have widely pledged to support him and give him time to work his Swedish magic.
And although Jonevret has asked for more time, it should not take too much for him to get the best out of his players, especially for the derby which neither of the teams want to lose.
“I told the players that they must start believing in themselves because they are good football players. They just have to start to believe and it’s going to take a few weeks until you know the quality of the whole group, of course,” said Jonevret after his first game in charge which ended in 1-1 draw against Polokwane City.
He did, however, admit that he knew little of Amakhosi and said they would look to better themselves instead of countering what their opponents bring.
On Saturday, the 54-year-old Jonevret will come up against Steve Komphela who has been at the helm for close to two years now and whose team have been buzzing lately.
Komphela, however, admitted that form doesn’t count in a match of this magnitude, and said he expects a Pirates team that will fight to the end.
“Maybe we could say Chiefs have been doing well, better than Pirates … maybe people coming into the match will say they expect Chiefs to win, but all that is thrown out of the window when it is a derby,” said Komphela.
“If we go into the match thinking that we are better off, then we would be fooled. We are going there ready, understanding that the match is very important for us,” added the 49-year-old.
I told the players that they must start believing in themselves because they are good football players.
Kjell Jonevret