Baroka can upset the Bucs applecart

Orlando Pirates will be heavy favourites to beat Baroka FC in Saturday’s Telkom Knockout final at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. But history tells us that Pirates’ status means little as the club battles to cross the line in cup competitions and has won far too many silver medals in the recent past. Five reasons why Baroka FC will be crowned Telkom Knockout champions at the weekend:

1. No pressure

The pressure will certainly be on Pirates and, while Baroka will be desperate to win‚ they do not carry the weight of expectation with many people believing them to be the heavy underdogs.

2. Well rested

Baroka will be playing their first game since their Telkom Knockout semifinal against Bidvest Wits on November 25‚ a break of two weeks for the players to refresh both physically and mentally. By contrast, Pirates had that draining Soweto Derby semifinal against Chiefs‚ followed that up with a Caf Confederation Cup first round game against Light Stars‚ a league game against Maritzburg United and then a trip to the Seychelles for the return leg against Stars.

3. Form

Pirates have now gone 15 games unbeaten in all competitions this season and so you can say they are in prime form. But Baroka have not been too shabby themselves of late‚ with four wins in their last five games and looking more and more confident with each passing week.

4. No scars

Orlando Pirates have had a dismal record in cup finals over the last decade that is likely to leave the side scarred going into Saturday.

By contrast Baroka are on the big stage for the first time and can just enjoy the moment.

5. Talent

All the above does not mean much if you don’t have talent and while their perilous league position suggests that Baroka are battling‚ they actually have a lot of quality in their team. Not as much as Pirates man-forman‚ but enough to make them a dangerous opponent under a good coach in Zambian Wedson Nyirenda. They will be organised‚ work hard and provide glimpses of extreme skill in-between. It will be a tough day for the Buccaneers.