Micho laughs off ‘jinx’ on Pirates
COACH: I WELCOME BEING PINNED WITH HOODOO TALK
Bucs have clinched a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Micho Sredojevic says he is happy to hear talk of an Orlando Pirates jinx at Cape Town Stadium, as his Orlando Pirates side prepare to take on Cape Town City in the only venue that they have lost a match in 2018.
The Buccaneers have had an amazing year, and this week guaranteed a spot in next season’s Caf Champions League with a 4-0 home thumping of Bidvest Wits. Pirates are also the only side that can catch Mamelodi Sundowns at the top, though their chances of reeling in a four-point lead with just two games left are slim.
The first task is to beat Cape Town City today and hope Sundowns slip up at home to Ajax Cape Town, but City’s home stadium has not been friendly to the Buccaneers – they were beaten 3-0 by Ajax there in a league game on January 31, and then on March 14, City beat them 1-0 in the Nedbank Cup last-16, with Ayanda Patosi netting the winning goal.
“In the last 13 years, working in Africa, I know I work with hyper-sensitive players. If you are planting something in their head it can block their legs,” said Sredoejvic this week on his side’s troubles at Cape Town Stadium.
“But I welcome you to keep pinning us with this (talk of a hoodoo), I remember how the media were feeding the story of Cape Town City winning four games in a row against Wits this season, and we know what happened (Wits won 2-1 in Cape Town on February 24). Football is an open game, we will see what will happen.
“We are delighted we are playing a team that were supposed to be contenders at the top of the table. Unfortunately results have not gone their way, but I have the highest respect for coach Benni (McCarthy) and his team. It is hard to play that team in all aspects. One detail will decide (the match). The last time in the Nedbank Cup one detail decided it. We want to do anything possible for that to go our way this time.”