The Citizen (KZN)

Jele: We’ll shoot down the Eagles

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: ‘PIRATES HAVE DONE HOMEWORK’

- Tshepo Ntsoelengo­e

New players have integrated well into the team, he says.

Orlando Pirates captain Happy Jele has revealed they have done their homework in trying to find out the type of team Green Eagles are when the two teams locks horns in the first leg of the preliminar­y round in the Caf Champions League at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka today.

Jele reveals that there has been a lot of work that has been done throughout the week at the Bucs training camp. And the most important thing for them is to ensure they start their Caf campaign on a positive note because their main objective is to reach the next round of the competitio­n.

“We have been preparing very well and we are looking forward to going to Lusaka to play our first game of the Caf Champions League. We know the team very well now, we’ve been analysing their games. The only thing we want is to go out there and do our best,” said the Pirates skipper.

“We are going to take it gameby-game. For now, the focus is on the preliminar­y games because it’s important for the team to go through to the next round.”

The defender knows this is going to be another season where there will be a lot of games to be played and there might be rotation in the squad for different tournament­s.

But the skipper says the final word on which players are to be used will come from the coaches.

He adds that the new recruits at the club have done rather well and said they have adjusted to the

club’s game model.

“The coaches know which players to put in in different games, we have a lot of players in the team, all of them are good and there is competitio­n in every position. It’s going to be tough for us because there will be a lot of games. But I believe the coaches know better than me,” he continued.

“But what I like is that the new guys who have come into the team have been doing very well in practice matches and they have also been great in training.

“They know our game model very well now, so it’s good for the team.”

 ?? HAPPY JELE Picture: Gallo Images ??
HAPPY JELE Picture: Gallo Images

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