Share

REMATCH: SUPERSPORT v BUCS!

accreditation
SuperSport United coach Stuart Baxter is tempted to take Orlando Pirates back to Mbombela Stadium where they beat Bucs in the league.   Photo by  Gallo Images
SuperSport United coach Stuart Baxter is tempted to take Orlando Pirates back to Mbombela Stadium where they beat Bucs in the league. Photo by Gallo Images

SUPERSPORT United head coach Stuart Baxter is expecting a backlash when his side play Orlando Pirates in the semifinal of the Telkom Knockout later this month.

Baxter, whose side destroyed Bucs 6-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the Mbombela Stadium last week, a result which saw Pirates coach Muhsin Ertugral sensationally quit on live television, said it was a tough draw.

He hinted that as this would be their home game they may take the semifinal back to Mbombela – the scene of the club’s biggest win in the PSL.

The club’s record win is a 9-0 drubbing of Seychelles outfit Red Star FC in the Caf Confederation Cup in March 2005. But giving a side of Pirates’ calibre six of the best will go down as their most memorable win.

Said Baxter: “We have the choice of using Lucas Moripe Stadium or our alternate, which is Mbombela Stadium. But we’ll see nearer the time which venue we will use.”

Baxter stressed that the 6-1 win over Pirates was now history and probably would not be repeated any time soon. He explained: “That was a one-off result. This is a whole new ball game. It is a cup semifinal, Pirates are wounded, they will want to make amends and have a new coach.”

But Matsatsantsa a Pitori seem to have a hoodoo over Pirates, having also beaten them 3-2 in the recent Nedbank Cup final. Baxter said he would be working on his players’ mentality. He knows that after beating neighbours and African champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the last round, his charges are one game away from their second cup final this year.

But he is wary of Pirates under interim coach Augusto Palacios. The Peruvian, who is the club’s head of development, got off to a fine start with a 2-1 Knockout quarterfinal win over Highlands Park at the weekend.

Said Baxter: “Palacios has been at Pirates for ever. He knows the players and the culture of the club. He has come in to steady the ship and stamp his own identity on the team.

“The key for us is preparation. The last thing we can afford to do is sit on our laurels.

“So we’re preparing for another difficult cup-tie.”

Get the best in Soccer, News and Lifestyle content with SNL24 PLUS
For 14 free days, you can have access to the best from Soccer Laduma, KickOff, Daily Sun, TrueLove and Drum. Thereafter you will be billed R29 per month. You can cancel anytime and if you cancel within 14 days you won't be billed.
Subscribe to SNL24 PLUS
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
What do you value most personally?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Earning tons of money
10% - 1 votes
Career Progression
10% - 1 votes
Work-Life balance
80% - 8 votes
Vote
Let us know what you think

Contact the People’s Paper with feedback on stories and how we could make dailysun.co.za even better!

Learn more
Do you have a story for the People’s Paper?

Click below to contact our news desk and share your story with SunLand!

Let's do it!