IT’S ALL EYES FORWARD FOR BAROKA
Downs game looms large after Pirates pulverised in explosive Telkom Knockout final
Winning the Telkom Knockout came as no surprise, said Baroka coach Wedson Nyirenda.
After only five months into the job, the Zambian coach has clearly improved on Bakgaga’s standards in the PSL.
Baroka beat Soweto giants and tournament favourites Orlando Pirates 3-2 on penalties to be crowned champions at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday evening.
Besides their promotion to the topflight a few years ago‚ this no doubt ranks as their biggest achievement since their formation in 2007.
But Nyirenda said he was not surprised pointing to his untiring work ethic.
“I have been a man of honours wherever I go. I create a difference for the good, for the people I am working for,” he said.
“This did not come as a surprise because those who have been with me since I arrived, including the chairman . . . I told them we are winning the Telkom Cup.
“In the league we are going to move to a position that we have never been in before because we need to grow in football.
“I have been preaching about winning this cup and thank God it has come to pass,” Nyirenda said.
The match ended 2-2 after extra-time and spot kicks were needed to determine who would walk away with the R4million prize money.
Thembinkosi Lorch’s missed penalty silenced the buzzing crowd of almost 40,000 who were mostly Pirates supporters and they saw Baroka make history by becoming the first Limpopo side to win a domestic top-flight cup competition.
Nyirenda said it was the most explosive cup final he had ever seen.
“Pirates were on top of us, they were all over us. They have good, mature players who know what to do with the ball.
“They can manage the game at any time and they can open up to score. But we were so resilient today in this game like we were in the past three games in this tournament.”
Baroka will have little time to celebrate as they are back in action on Tuesday in an Absa Premiership match against Mamelodi Sundowns, who they have already beaten 2-0 this season.
Nyirenda said his players must immediately forget about winning the Telkom Cup because they need to improve their log position.
“We cannot be the Telkom champions and then start fighting relegation. We have to move on from there.
“Tuesday will be the game of our life [against Sundowns]. We need to get the three points. If we can’t, the least will be to get one point,” Nyirenda said.