Siwelele poised to upset Buccaneers
2010-03-11 12:15
Bloemfontein Celtic coach Owen da Gama is hoping to put the cherry
on top of a good season by winning the Telkom Knockout, but knows he faces a
tough hurdle in the first round against Orlando Pirates at the Orlando Stadium
on Saturday night.
Kick-off is at 8.15pm.
Celtic finished sixth in the Absa Premiership after narrowly
avoiding relegation the previous season, and Da Gama deserves a pat on the back
for turning around Celtic’s fortunes, despite speculation that Gordon Igesund is
being lined up to replace him next season.
But Da Gama is focused on the job at hand. “We enjoyed a good
season so far but made mistakes from which we learnt. We are looking forward to
a good cup run.”
Da Gama believes if Celtic can beat Pirates it could propel them
into the final.
He has been down this road before. “When I coached Silver Stars
(now Platinum Stars) in 2006, we played Kaizer Chiefs in the first round and
then went on to win the cup.
“I strongly believe if we can beat Pirates, then the motivation
will be there for us to go all the way.”
Pirates will be weakened by having six players on duty with Bafana
Bafana in Brazil where national head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is holding a
four-week training camp.
But Da Gama is also minus six players, two with Bafana midfielders
Tlou Segolela and Thabo Nthethe – the injured Cecil Oerson and three suspended
players in defenders Michael Khaile, Johannes Motlhaping and Wellington
Sambu.
Good news is that experienced defender Mokete Tsotetsi, is back from
suspension.
Said Da Gama: “Having to make six changes could work for or against
either side. It will be the team that wants it most on the night.
“Having six players out means an opportunity to other players to
show me they deserve to be in the starting line-up.”
Da Gama added that motivation for some of the squad is the fact
contracts were up for grabs at the end of the season.
The former Bucs coach also knows Pirates have more depth than
Celtic, but he believes his side can upset Pirates in their own backyard.
“We beat Pirates 2-1 in the Nedbank Cup last season in
Potchefstroom and have a good away record this season. We are quietly
confident.”
The two sides met in the final league fixture in the Free State
capital last weekend in a clash that ended 1-1.
Da Gama is set to give teenage striker Bongani Ndulula another run
after he scored the equaliser last weekend against the Buccaneers.
One of the six changes Bucs coach Ruud Krol will have to make is in
goal by bringing in Senzo Meyiwa to replace Moeneeb Josephs who is in
Brazil.
Meyiwa has played three times this season and is raring to go, but
warned his players about a weakness he noticed creeping into the team. “We tend
to lose concentration late in matches.
“We need to focus for the entire game. I am looking forward to
playing and determined to give it my all. The coach has been brilliant this week
with the way he has motivated us.”
In Saturday’s other Knockout clash Golden Arrows host Platinum
Stars at the Chatsworth Stadium. Kick-off is at 3pm.
On Sunday, Premiership champions SuperSport United will be hoping
to end their two match losing streak when they play relegation haunted
Mpumalanga Black Aces at Witbank’s Puma Stadium.
United lost 3-0 away to AmaZulu in their last league match and
coach Gavin Hunt will want to put matters right against Aces who finished 15th
in the 16-team Premiership and are involved in the promotion/relegation
play-off.
Aces meet Nathi Lions in the first leg of the semi-final play-off
at home next Wednesday and that is expected to take priority.
In Sunday’s other clash Ajax Cape Town host Moroka Swallows at
Newlands.
Both kick-off at 3pm.
- SAPA