Maela leads Pirates out of the Orlando Stadium tunnel. Image Source: (@OlandoPirates/Twitter)
Why Pirates skipper was not surprised by loss to Galaxy
Orlando Pirates skipper Innocent Maela explains why he was not surprised to lose to Jwaneng Galaxy whom they welcome on Friday.
Maela leads Pirates out of the Orlando Stadium tunnel. Image Source: (@OlandoPirates/Twitter)
Orlando Pirates skipper Innocent Maela says they were not surprised to lose to Jwaneng Galaxy in the CAF Champions League.
Pirates will welcome their Botswana counterparts, Galaxy at Orlando Stadium on Friday night and Maela says they are playing to win the match.
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Pirates are under pressure and will be gunning to beat coach Morena Ramoreboli’s troops and reach the group stages of the CAF Champions League.
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PIRATES SKIPPER NOT SURPRISED BY LOSS TO GALAXY
Fresh from three consecutive losses, coach Jose Riveiro and his men are under pressure to return to winning ways in front of their home crowds.
Following the 1-0 defeat in the first leg to Galaxy, Pirates went on to lose to Mamelodi Sundowns and Stellenbosch in all competitions.
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“Were we surprised to be beaten by Jwaneng in the first leg? Not at all because it’s a Champions League match,” Maela told the media.
“We expected a tough match, a very competitive match, and a very tactical match and that’s what we got.
“We don’t speak about complacency, we don’t have that in our club.”
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MAELA ON FACING GALAXY IN A CRUNCH TIE AT ORLANDO
The seasoned Bafana Bafana left-back said when Pirates play a match, they go all out to win it, and facing Galaxy is no exception.
“When you play a match, you play for 90 minutes, right? So, if you score early, it’s good but if you score before halftime or just after it’s also good, as long as you put the ball at the back of the net,” he added.
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“We are not going into matches thinking to score within the first 10 minutes or the first 15 minutes. We don’t go with that idea… we just need to go out there and execute the plan and we believe the goal will come eventually.”
Heading to this crucial encounter, the former African champions are definitely eyeing a spot to reach the lucrative group stages.
Maela said it’s always their dream to play in the next stage of the CAF interclub competition as they will look to join Mamelodi Sundowns.
READ | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS SET NEW PSL RECORD WITH CONVINCING WIN
Sundowns are facing Bumamuru of Burundi on Saturday, an opponent they hammered 4-0 away from home in the first leg.
