The South African coach has started mind games against Jose Riveiro’s team
Jwaneng Galaxy FC coach Morena Ramoreboli feels pressure will be more on Orlando Pirates when both sides clash in the CAF Champions League second preliminary round on Saturday.
Galaxy host Pirates in the first leg of the continental tie with the Buccaneers looking to avenge last season’s defeat when they lost 5-4 on penalties to the Botswana champions after a 1-1 draw on aggregate at the same stage.
Jose Riveiro’s men have shown different character this season following their 4-0 thrashing of Disciplines FC of Madagascar in the preliminary round and feel confident of getting one over Ramoreboli’s men.
“Preparations are going well and the team is highly motivated to play against a big team like Orlando Pirates,” Ramoreboli told iDiski Times.
Ramoreboli says pressure is on ‘big team’ Pirates
“I believe we’re facing the same problem as them [Pirates] with players returning from the national team today [Thursday] – Sibisi, Ndah, Mofokeng, and Mbatha were with the national team, we’re also in that situation.
“But we are confident enough that we can do well in this game, they are more under pressure because they are a big team and they are supposed to beat a small team. Also, we beat them the last time.
“Are we ready to compete? Yes. Are we ready for the group stages? Yes. Are scared of Pirates? No.”
What is giving the South African tactician worry, however, is that a lot has changed from the Pirates team he eliminated to make it to the group stages last season.
What else worries the Jwaneng Galaxy coach?
“A lot has changed from the Pirates we played against, Ndlondlo was playing, Deon Hotto didn’t play as a left-back, they have a new center-back pairing of Ndah and Sesane, they have a very influential Mofokeng, Mabasa was not there, so a lot has changed,” he added.
“I just hope this time we have more supporters than them, when they last came here, at half-time almost the whole stadium was supporting them. We scored then people started believing that we could win the game.”
The match will be staged at the Botswana National Stadium on Saturday before the second leg at Orlando Stadium on September 21.
