Bucs set to front up to Al-ittihad
Orlando Pirates are expected to take a hard-nosed approach and not to be intimidated when they take on Libyan side Alittihad in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage tie at Martyrs of February Stadium in Benghazi today.
This will be the Buccaneers’ second match in Group B of the continental club competition.
After disposing of Algerian outfit JS Saoura 2-0 at Orlando Stadium last week, Bucs cocoach Fadlu Davids expects a tougher game from Al-ittihad.
“We already have some matches downloaded from the analyst but we as coaches, our focus was fully on the Golden Arrows game and we will start analysing them now,” Davids told the media after their goalless draw with Golden Arrows at home on Wednesday.
“But our analysts have already done the work and they have some details about the team. Definitely a better team so far if you compare them to JS Saoura. Yet they have not played a competitive match for four weeks, with two matches having been postponed.”
Davids also addressed the controversial sidelining of striker Gabadinho Mhango despite his top-drawer performance at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
“There are a lot of players that are not in the squad, you can name Tshegofatso Mabasa, you can name Ntsiki Nyauza, who is coming back from his illness... Players are fighting for their place. Before this match [against Golden Arrows] we had four matches that we won in a row and we were looking for consistency,” he said.