Bucs aim for big upset

2008-07-21 11:54

Durban - Orlando Pirates aim to go one better than archrivals Kaizer Chiefs when they host the best team in Europe, Manchester United, in the second Vodacom Challenge clash at the Kings Park Stadium on Tuesday night. Kick-off is at 20:10.

Amakhosi surprised their critics when they held the English Premiership and European Champions League champions 1-1 in a pulsating opening Challenge game at a packed Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.

Bucs have a couple of incentives to do better than Chiefs. They are determined to wipe away the 4-0 defeat the Red Devils inflicted on Pirates in the Challenge at the same venue two years ago and the players are keen to impress their new Dutch coach Rudi Krol.

Krol told his players after their training session at Chatsworth Stadium on Sunday night to go out and enjoy the game, play their normal game and have fun.

Krol, who captained Holland in an illustrious playing career, added that while it was important to do well against United, he was looking to the Soweto Derby against Chiefs at Port Elizabeth's EPTU Stadium to assess where he stands with the quality and potential he has inherited at Bucs.

The Derby winners earns the right to play United in the Challenge final at Loftus on Saturday (15:30).

"The big prize is playing United in the final," said Krol.

Pirates spokesperson Mickey Modisane believes Bucs are on the mend after a poor 2007/08 season where Pirates finished a disappointing eighth in the Absa Premiership.

Major upset

He said while Chiefs did well against United he pointed out: "United landed in Cape Town a day before the game. They did not look acclimatised or at their best. By Tuesday they will have had a few days to get used to conditions and will come out guns blazing against us.

"That's good as I am of the opinion that Bucs can cause a major upset in Durban. This is going to be a whole new ball game. Chiefs set the standard and now Pirates have to raise that standard to a higher level."

Tuesday's match is heading for a sellout. About 2 000 grandstand tickets at R250 are still available while the final at Pretoria's Loftus Stadium is a complete sellout and fans are warned not to come to Loftus without a ticket.

Krol has 29 players in his squad and is likely to mix and match after having his international players back at training after they were given longer leave after competing for their various countries in the African Nations Cup qualifiers last month.

The likes of new goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs, who like defender Innocent Mdledle, striker Excellent Walaza and midfield playmaker Teko Modise, did duty for Bafana Bafana, plus Lesotho international and Bucs skipper Lehlohonolo Seema, veteran Zimbabwe striker Gilbert Mushangazhike and Malawi midfielder Josephy Kamwendo, all come into Krol's reckoning.

He has watched the other members of the squad in pre-season matches but none of the international stars have played any competitive soccer under Krol.

Fighting spirit

Krol said it was difficult to assess players thoroughly during training. "The only way to know how good a player is to see him under competitive match conditions."

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said after the match against Chiefs he was surprised by Amakhosi's fighting spirit and competitiveness.

He will make at least three changes when he brings in two England international stars in defender Rio Ferdinand and midfielder Michael Carrick, plus French defender Mikael Silvestre who all missed the game against Chiefs due to injury.

But Ferguson said he was confident the trio would be fit to play against Pirates.

United arrive in Durban on Tuesday and will train at Kings Park on Tuesday afternoon.

The United boss said he has no other serious injury worries. But he will be hoping his star England striker Wayne Rooney gets over the sulks after he was substituted in the second half after what Ferguson called a spat with Amakhosi midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane.

Rooney looked anything but the world class player he is and he will be keen to show Durban fans why he is rated as one of the best strikers in world soccer.

Rooney teamed up alongside Argentine star Carlos Tevez against Chiefs and the two have proved a deadly combination in the English Premiership. That in itself spells trouble for Bucs.

But the capacity crowd will help level the playing field a little for the Buccaneers. But it will be up to Bucs to emulate Chiefs and rise to the occasion.

- SAPA