Pirates sail into greatest battle

Egyptian giants will prove a Cup handful

NINETY minutes of resolve is needed from Orlando Pirates to overcome the continent’s most prestigious side and book themselves a place in the African Confederation Cup.

Pirates take a slender onegoal lead to Egypt tomorrow night for a game where they can expect to face a full home attack as hosts Al Ahly seek to turn around the aggregate deficit and stay on course to retain the trophy they won last year.

The match in Suez, some two hours south of Cairo, is being played behind closed doors because of Egyptian authorities’ security concerns, both over the possibility of crowd violence and a repeat of the deaths that have overshadowed Egyptian football over the last two years, as much as political agitation as the military re-establish their authority over the running of the country.

Either way it is to the advantage of Pirates, who now do not have to contend with the usually intimidating atmosphere that the rabid Egyptian fans provide. It is also the source of some concern last trip to Egyptian capital a month ago in the group phase of the Confederation Cup.

But he does add: “They are going to come at us. They are a very good team going forward and if we don’t defend the way we did at Orlando Stadium in the first leg), it will be a problem.”

Only four times before in some two decades of participation has South Africa managed to provide a finalist for one of the annual pan-African competitions – a paltry return given the plentiful resources of the Premier Soccer League.

Despite a recent turn in attitude and an alleged new desire to see PSL clubs dominate events like the African Champions League and the Confederation Cup, Pirates have emerged the only real contenders.

They have been to two previous finals before while Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns have managed one apiece despite years of persistent participation.

The Buccaneers face a storm of note tomorrow before they can claim a place in the final.