Marumo Gallants coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is determined to dump defending champions Orlando Pirates out of the Nedbank Cup.
The two Premier Soccer League teams are set to clash on Sunday at the Orlando Stadium. Bahlabane ba Ntwa are the only team in the semi-final from outside Gauteng; the other two are Kaizer Chiefs and last year's finalists Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Soweto giants have had a good run across all competitions this season, apart from the Carling Knockout where they suffered a shocking 3-2 loss against eventual champions Magesi FC in the first hurdle.
‘It is a big challenge for Gallants, but…'
This will be the third time the two teams are meeting across all competitions; the initial one was in the league where Bucs claimed a huge 8-1 win at home before another unexpected 2-0 loss away.
“It's a big challenge for us, but we know that we had a great performance a few weeks ago. But it is another game and we are prepared for that. We go there with an ambition to go through. When teams get to the semi-finals, there are no more small teams; everybody has to respect every team,” Ouaddou told the media ahead of the game.
“It is a big challenge, it won't be easy – every weekend comes with a big challenge. For us this is a final, before the big final, we have a lot to play for.”
‘I told my players Pirates already have a trophy'
The Buccaneers successfully defended their MTN8 after beating Stellenbosch in the final earlier in the season. They set history by becoming the only team in the country to win the competitions three times in a row.
They come into the game full of confidence after beating MC Alger 1-0 in aggregate to seal their place in the Caf Champions League semi-final against Pyramids. Ouaddou has revealed how he has motivated the players against a tough opponent.
“I don't take too much of these factors into consideration. The kind of team that we are playing here, they play three games in 10 days, and they are fit. I think we will have a very strong opponent, but I told my players that teams in Gauteng already have trophies, so for a change, we need to bring this trophy to Bloemfontein,” he concluded.
