“Since we’ve been playing away and been winning, we take that as an advantage,” said Mbatha.
Orlando Pirates midfielder Thalente Mbatha says the Buccaneers are counting on their good away record ahead of the CAF Champions League semi-final second leg clash against Pyramids FC.
The Buccaneers are undefeated away from home in this season’s competition, winning three and drawing one of the four away matches played so far. One of the away victories was against the defending champions Al-Ahly in the tournament’s group stage.
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As they return to Cairo to face Pyramids in the second leg of the CAF Champions League semifinal at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo this evening, Mbatha is hoping that history will repeat itself and they will win this encounter and reach the final.
Pirates wasted their chance to go to the second leg with a good advantage when they were held to a goalless draw by Pyramids at the Orlando Stadium last Saturday, thereby shifting the advantage to the Egyptian side.
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Mbatha, however, backs the Buccaneers to come away with victory in Cairo.
“Since we’ve been playing away and been winning, we take that as an advantage because we’ve gone to Cairo, and we’ve been able to get the result,” said Mbatha.
“So, for us, it’s to focus and continue with the mentality that we have because we’ve been unbeaten in the CAF Champions League. It is to go back to Cairo and do the same and apply the same mentality.”
Mbatha is anticipating a more open play from their hosts when the sides meet in Cairo today because they “got the point they were looking for” in Orlando.
“For them, they were to man-mark us and catch us on the counter because the right wing wasn’t tracking back with our left-back, so I believe that was their mentality because they’re playing away.
“They were trying to secure the one point that they already have,” commented Mbatha.
Pyramids coach wants goals
Meanwhile, Pyramids coach Krunoslav Jurcic is hoping that his team will convert chances when they meet Pirates again today.
The Egyptian side created many chances when the sides met in the first leg in Orlando last week, but were guilty of not converting those opportunities.
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“I think we can improve by converting the chances we created, because we are capable of scoring goals.
“If we can repeat a performance like we did on Saturday, I believe we have a strong chance of reaching the final,” said Jurcic.
