Samir is a big worry to Bucs

Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer says the return of Samir Nurkovic (above) at Kaizer Chiefs gives Amakhosi a boost ahead of the DStv Premiership Soweto derby at Orlando Stadium tomorrow.

Nurkovic missed the first two meetings of the Soweto giants when they clashed in a two-leg MTN8 semifinal tie earlier this season.

The Buccaneers went on to win 5-0 on aggregate by winning the first leg 3-0, before wrapping it up with a 2-0 victory in the second leg.

But, Zinnbauer says this is a different game now and even though Chiefs started the season on a bad note, they were beginning to pick themselves up.

“I think the players know what is happening with Kaizer Chiefs at the moment. Yes, maybe it wasn’t a good start, but now they are closing in on us by picking up more points. We know they have a big squad. a good one, and Nurkovic is back. He is is a player who gives the team a big advantage,” said the Bucs mentor.

“The squad that they have is strong. It is not like we are going to go there and get three points easily. No, this is going to be a fight, this is a big game.”

The Pirates coach also mentioned what a good coach his opposite number, Gavin Hunt, is.

He is adamant the fact they beat them twice in the Wafa Wafa tournament means very little and tomorrow it will be about fighting for maximum points on the day.

“They have a coach who has a lot of experience in this league. He won titles and championships, he knows his business. Yes, we won the last two games in the MTN8 but it’s a very different situation now,” he added.

“We are playing a league game and we are fighting for three points. They are the favourites, they got second place on the log last year (Chiefs finished runners-up to champions Mamelodi Sundowns) and qualified for the (CAF) Champions League.”