I think AmaZulu will be in trouble

Orlando Pirates will

go into the MTN8 final on the back of a Soweto Derby defeat to bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs and this could either work for or against them. We spoke to former Bucs winger Bennett Chenene as he explains why he feels the Soweto giants are at an advantage for this encounter…

On Pirates losing the Soweto Derby…

“I think losing the Soweto Derby was a wake-up call for (Orlando) Pirates. If they had won the Soweto Derby, I feel that they would be going into the final feeling a bit relaxed, so

I think it’s a good thing that they lost the derby because now they will know that they need to bounce back and I just think they will go into the game with a different attitude. If they had won that game, then AmaZulu FC would have surprised them. The game against (Kaizer) Chiefs was a league game and they can still recover by picking up three points in their next one, but you can’t say the same about the final. If you lose, then that’s it – you won’t get another chance. They will go into the game against AmaZulu with anger. I watched them in the derby and I felt that they played well, it’s just that they lost to a lucky goal. We can’t say they were outclassed by Chiefs. It was a balanced game. I think Pirates will go all out to win this.”

On winning only two out of their last 11 finals

“The record is something that will put Pirates under a lot of pressure going into the final. They have been losing in cup finals and I think the chairman (Dr Irvin Khoza) wants a cup now. That’s why I think AmaZulu will be in trouble. But I don’t think the new Pirates players will feel that much pressure. They don’t know the pressure the team has had in previous years, so I think that helps them. I don’t think Pirates can afford to lose the derby and then go on to lose in the final. Obviously AmaZulu cannot be underestimated because they have players like George (Maluleka). They are a team that can come with surprises, but I don’t think Pirates would underestimate them after losing to Chiefs. Chiefs will be the reason Pirates win the cup.”

Mpontshane or Ofori? Who starts?

“That goal (Siyabonga) Mpontshane conceded was a concern. I think

Pirates should start with Richard Ofori for this one because maybe Mpontshane’s confidence will be low. It’s better to have Ofori because he was the one who was playing before

he got injured recently. I don’t think Mpontshane would want to be in a situation where things don’t go well against Chiefs and then maybe not perform well in the final.”

The threat posed by Saleng, Erasmus

“Pirates are a threat with (Kermit) Erasmus and (Monnapule) Saleng upfront. I have been happy with Erasmus, and I obviously don’t know what happened at Sundowns, but I am happy with his lev is the type of player w final for Pirates becau in finals before. He c with his experience. one goal can win a fin