AmaTuks out to crash Pirates’ party

ORLANDO Pirates have been in a seventh heaven but some want to bring them crashing back down to earth.

The Buccaneers have been riding the crest of the wave following their scintillating displays in the CAF Confederation Cup, where they reached the final after putting the mighty Al Ahly to the sword. The ecstasy levels in the Pirates camp heightened after four of their players – Oupa Manyisa, Kermit Erasmus, Filipe Ovono and Thamsamqa Gabuza were nominated for the CAF Player of the Year award.

And yet, University of Pretoria are hoping to emerge as party poopers and put a spanner in the works. Tuks travel to Orlando Stadium to take on the Buccanners in the last 16 of the Telkom Knockout this Friday. And although Tuks will be out to inflict pain on Pirates, their coach Sammy Troughton,

pictured, insisted they will tread with caution on the night.

“They are the talk of Africa at the moment. We know the quality of Pirates. They like cups. We have got to look forward to it – it’s not every day that you get that opportunity to play against them. I will be telling my players to go out and enjoy it and, obviously, it comes with responsibility. We are huge underdogs but we have to go there with an attitude of belief. We can’t go and defend. It’s a once off tie, so we have to be brave,” said Troughton.

“There’s going to be periods of pressure and periods where we have to defend with discipline but when we do have possession, we have got to create chances and be positive and attack in appropriate areas and time.”

Friday night’s clash will witness two teams with contrasting cup pedigrees. While Pirates have excelled in cup competitions, Tuks have made just one final.

In fact, since their elevation to the elite league, Tuks have not gone beyond the first round. Troughton understands that it is now or never for his side and is keen to put one over Pirates coach Eric Tinkler.

“It’s a knockout. If you lose you are out. Winning is the only option. We would like to get the opportunity to go to Maritzburg in the quarter-finals. We can’t think about that now. We have to first get over a huge hurdle. Pirates are on high, the whole of Africa and country are talking about them. They are a top team and their coach has done a good job. Tinkler has done wonders. They have a cup pedigree,” said the former Mamelodi Sundowns player.

So far this season, Pirates and Tuks have not done well. They both got off to false starts with a series of unimpressive results. Both have won just one game in the league thus far.

Said Troughton: “I don’t know what team will come because they have got such depth in their squad. I have a feeling they might start with two strikers – Kermit and Majoro. Gabuza is there. They are just too strong all over.” Troughton, whose last match was Kaizer Chiefs in which his players managed a 1-1 draw, is hopeful his charges can build on from that performance. “It’s a similar calibre of a team. Chiefs and Pirates are big guys. We did get a good result away from Chiefs. It was a while ago but it does give us believe that we are capable of doing things on the night. Pirates got to the final and maybe their focus locally will be a bit more settled,” said the coach.