Orlando Pirates skipper Innocent Maela has declared that they will exert pressure of demonic proportions to outwit Jwaneng Galaxy as they aim to break into the CAF Champions group phase.
The match is slated for Orlando Stadium at 19h30. The Soweto giants suffered a 1-0 away defeat in Botswana through a goal that Zimbabwean winger Daniel Msendami scored.
They plunge into this one on the backfoot of three identical defeats in all competitions.
First, they lost 1-0 to Jwaneng Galaxy in the second preliminary round first-leg match played at the National Stadium in Gaborone, Botswana.
They lost a DStv Premiership match 1-0 at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns before losing on the same margin to Stellenbosch in the second leg of the MTN8 Cup semi-finals.Â
WHAT INNOCENT MAELA SAID
However, the mighty Buccaneers’ captain, Maela, is defiant and confident that they will progress to the next stage of the competition.
“There is room for us to reach the group stages and find ourselves playing against the best in the continent. At this point, nothing is impossible,” Maela said.
“That is what we want. That is our motive as a group. We can correct what we failed in the first match and get the best result.”
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COACH JOSE RIVEIRO SEES ANOTHER GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
Coach Jose Riveiro retains full confidence that his team will pull all the stops to leap into the group phase.
‘It’s about us tomorrow. We are playing at home against a good team. An opponent that is already leading one nil. It’s a challenge, but we love the challenges.
“It’s an opportunity to prove that we can do well and be our best even in difficult circumstances.
“What happened in Botswana is past, and tomorrow, we have an opportunity to write a different and new page for the club.
“The players want to play in this competition, so if we don’t get the result we want, it won’t mean we didn’t try our best.
“It’s going to be difficult for us, but it’s even going to be more difficult for the opponent,” Jose Riviero said.