Swallows’ big character test
TRICKY: PIRATES AWAIT IN THE ‘ORIGINAL SOWETO DERBY’
Brandon Truter has managed to steer his Swallows FC team in the right direction so far in the DStv Premiership, with the club yet to lose a league match, but he knows it will be tricky against Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates at the Orlando Stadium tomorrow afternoon.
Swallows have collected 21 points in their last nine league games, recording six victories and three draws in the process.
Their impressive showing in the opening stages of the season sees them as joint leaders with Mamelodi Sundowns at this early stage of the season, though Downs have a better goal difference.
In their most recent game, Swallows edged Cape Town City 3-2 on Tuesday.
And now with the Pirates game, dubbed as the “original Soweto derby”, coming up, Truter reckons it will test his players’ character.
“Pirates are a very different kettle of fish. I think they’re a very dynamic‚ very offensive-minded team. I think it’s going to be very different to what we have faced‚“said the Swallows coach after the Cape Town City clash.
“I think the Sunday game will be a very good test of our character and strength in this league. We’ll prepare as best as we can, because it’s their home game.”
Pirates have have been blowing hot and cold in the league despite the club’s success in winning the MTN8.
The Buccaneers have only won three games, with four draws and one loss in their last eight matches.
Bucs are sitting fi fth on the log with 13 points and Josef Zinnbauer’s troops last league game saw them going down 1-0 to Sundowns last weekend.
With the Buccaneers having had a full week to prepare for the Swallows tie after their midweek Caf Confederation Cup game against Sagrada Esperanca was called off, Truter believes Pirates will have an advantage going into this game.
“With their previous result as well I think they’re a bit under pressure to get the result and also I think they’ll be playing their first match this week,” he added.
“So they will be the fresher team and they have their backs to the wall and will come out guns blazing. It is about us keeping it very tight at the back.”