Bucs go for the kill

ORLANDO Pirates face a further test of their growing mental strength in the Caf Champions League when they meet Zamalek in front of an expected packed stadium in El Gouna, Egypt, today.

Originally the match was to be played behind closed doors due to the tense political situation in the country, but the Egyptian FA announced on Thursday that supporters would be allowed into the 12 000-capacity El Gouna Stadium, Bucs coach Roger de Sa said on Friday.

Pirates’ superb Champions League run has included enduring 40°C heat, though in front of an empty stadium, for a 3-0 win against Al-Ahly in El Gouna earlier this month.

That victory saw Bucs bounce back from a 0-0 opening home draw against Congo-Brazzaville’s AC Leopards. A 4-1 home win against Zamalek followed, then last weekend’s 1-0 first-leg MTN8 semifinal victory against Kaizer Chiefs.

Now Pirates will attempt to seal a heady month by beating Zamalek, this time in front of home supporters, too, to achieve the target set by De Sa of 10 points to reach the semifinals.

“It was announced on Thursday that the game will not be behind closed doors — I’m not sure why,” the Bucs coach said.

Pirates have stunned Egyptian football with back-to-back victories in the Champions League against Al-Ahly and Zamalek, 12-time winners between them. When Bucs arrived in the Red Sea resort of El Gouna three weeks ago to play Ahly, the local reaction was that

There’s more respect now. Everyone here is saying we’re the best team in the group

the South Africans were in for a thrashing.

“There’s a lot more respect now. Everyone here is saying we’re the best team in the group,” De Sa said.

Striker Lennox Bacela said: “There’s still a lot of work to do. What we’ve done in the last few weeks will mean nothing if we don’t reach the semifinals.”

Pirates might have ended trophyless last season, but the core of the squad that won backto-back trebles in 2011 and 2012 is still there, led by Bucs’ strong senior player brigade, such as captain Lucky Lekgwathi and defenders Rooi Mahamutsa and Siyabonga Sangweni.

It’s shown in this campaign, in which Pirates have more than atoned for a first-round exit last year.

“We have a bunch of good, professional players here — the unity is just amazing and I think that’s what’s going to bring back the glory to the club,” Bacela said.

“The mental strength of the players is one of the factors that has made the team play so well. Some of us were not there in DR Congo [for the 3-2 aggregate win against TP Mazembe in the second round], but the experiences the guys had there, they share that. Then it grew against AlAhly.

“Everyone realises we can’t achieve what the team did against TP Mazembe — and then not progress further.”

Pirates expect a backlash from last-placed Zamalek, though Bacela believes the White Knights’ desperation for a first win in Group A could play into Bucs’ hands. “It will be an open game and that could be ideal for us,” he said.

Bucs have identified the scorer from the previous game, Shikabala, as a danger man. Zamalek have two internationals — defender Mahmoud Fathallah and striker Ahmed Gaafar — back from suspension.

“There’s no doubt Zamalek will be stronger than they were in the last game,” De Sa said. “This will be a whole different game.”