Pirates ready to move on and consolidate position

ORLANDO Pirates want to start life without Roger de Sa with a bang by sending neighbours Wits back home empty handed tomorrow.

Fresh from a 2-1 win over Ajax Cape Town at Orlando Stadium, Pirates want to make it two in a row by beating Gavin Hunt’s side at the same venue.

Pirates’ chairman Irvin Khoza on Friday appointed Eric Tinkler caretaker coach, and he is upbeat about their chances of beating Wits.

De Sa quit Pirates after a meeting with Khoza on Friday.

Khoza accepted his resignation and thanked him for the good job he did for Pirates, including helping the club reach the 2013 African Champions League final.

“All our games are important, no matter who we play,” Tinkler said yesterday. “We have to be at our best to win the game. It will be a tough one but we are ready for them.

“We have done our preparations and are looking forward to playing Wits. We need a win to keep on moving up the ladder.”

Tinkler, a former Bafana Bafana midfielder, was in charge at training along with his assistant, Tebogo Moloi, on Saturday. Tinkler told the players that they needed to win tomorrow to show they were serious about challenging for the Premiership title.

Pirates, who are busy playing catch-up after representing the country during the Champions League, are eighth on the log.

Captain Lucky Lekgwathi said: “For us there is not much of a difference – we also worked with Eric and Tebogo.

“The most important thing is to get a win and consolidate our challenge for the league.

“Wits have been doing well under Gavin. They have also assembled some of the best players but we are not scared of them.”

New Wits’ striker S’thembiso Ngcobo is confident they will beat Pirates to start the year on a high note.

“We are geared up for a tough game, but are confident we will do well in Orlando.

“We have been training hard. Coach Gavin has been telling us there is nothing impossible in life as long as you work hard during the game.

“We are going there for a win,” said Ngcobo, who joined Wits from Kaizer Chiefs via AmaZulu.