Egyptian team promises to go all out against Pirates

TOP Egyptian club coach Jesualdo Ferreira believes his men can handle the pressure of playing in the Caf Confedera- tion Cup and holding on to the top spot in their home league.

Five-time winners of the Champions League Zamalek landed at OR Tambo airport yesterday for their clash with Orlando Pirates on Saturday.

The match will see them turn their attention to continental club football before going back home to edge them- selves closer to the league title. Zamalek, level on three points with the Buccaneers in Group B, are top of the table in Egypt with four matches left to play. They need just four points to clinch the title.

A win away from home against the Buccaneers at Mbombela Stadium (3pm) would further boost their con- fidence. Ferreira says the Egyptians are not here to sit back and defend like they did two years ago at Orlando.

Zamalek were thrashed 4-1 in the Champions League group stages in 2013 by Roger de Sa’s Pirates side that went on to reach the final.

“We are expecting a hard game. This game is very impor- tant because it’s the first time we play away from home [in the group stages].”

Ferreira said at the airport: “It’s an important game, but it’s not a decisive one.

“This year Zamalek are the top team in Egypt, but the league is not finished. For us it’s important to have this challenge in Africa.

“I can’t say I know much about them [Pirates]. I know they have a good CV in Africa.”

The Portuguese coach is concerned that his players may struggle to play in the afternoon during Ramadan, while they are fasting.

“We are worried. It’s been 20 days with Ramadan.

“It was difficult in the begin- ning, but it’s controlled. We’ve got some injuries also, but that’s normal because we are playing every three days.”

Pirates beat Congo side AC Leopards 1-0 in their group game a fortnight ago, while Zamalek edged Tunisian side CS Sfaxien by the same scoreline.

Sfaxien host Leopards in Sfax tomorrow.