Orlando Pirates and Black Leopards' Nedbank Cup Final diary
Nedbank Cup Final diary
Posted: 2011-05-26 18:32
With two days to go until the Nedbank Cup Final, KickOff.com checks in with Orlando Pirates and Black Leopards, to find out how preparations for the match are going.
Black Leopards
KickOff.com spoke to: Team manager Sam Khaphathe
How is the training going, Sam – is the team doing anything special to prepare for the match?
There is no special training because this is a normal game, like any other games. So we don’t train players differently, and after training as usual they go home until Friday when will go to camp in Nelspruit. The more you make these players stay in one place for a long time – that’s when they start to lose focus.
Are there any injuries or suspensions?
There were only two players: Malawian international Harry Nyirenda, who was suspended when we played Baroka FC, he got his third yellow card, so he won’t be in the game. And Bernard Harawa also didn’t train; he went to Malawi as they have a friendly match so we released them to honour his country. Besides those two, all were at training.
How is the mood in the camp?
Everybody is looking forward to play this game on Saturday, the mood in the camp is very high! Looking at the situation we were having of these different [PSL Disciplinary] cases, in and out, and at the end of the day even if it destabilised us or made us lose focus on the number-one spot, what we are happy about is that we ended up number two on the log which guarantees us a place in the Play-offs.
What are the plans for the next couple of days?
Tomorrow [Friday] we are leaving for Nelspruit in the morning and we will have training on Friday afternoon at Mbombela Stadium. Saturday morning there is nothing, we will wait for the game to be played at 3pm. The players are all fit– even if the game goes into extra-time we will be ready.
Orlando Pirates
KickOff.com spoke to: Mickey Modisane, PRO
How is the training going, Mickey, are you doing anything different to prepare for the big match?
Today [Thursday] the players met at the club headquarters in Parktown at 10am, they then headed for a training session at Orlando Stadium. The session was two hours long, and from there the players went to have lunch at a venue I cannot disclose. Then, after 1pm, they headed to Nelspruit on a bus.
How is the mood in the camp? Are the players confident of winning the Treble?
When they left the mood was very high and the spirit was very high and I sense pity for Black Leopards on Saturday! We came such a long way and we are so close to achieving our goal, and the squad are champions, professionals and also match-hot players who understand that they will never crack.
What are your injuries and suspensions?
All of the players are travelling – even those who are injured and those who just came back have gone. (Bongani ‘Drogba’ Ndulula and Dikgang Mabalane had light training sessions on Wednesday and Friday.)
What is the plan for the next couple of days?
When we arrive in Nelspruit we will be going straight to the hotel, which I won’t disclose, then tomorrow they will train at Mbombela Stadium. With the tickets sold out, really everyone is getting behind the team – and to our supporters we celebrated our League victory on Saturday, let’s celebrate – but let us not repeat what happened at the weekend! [Modisane is referring to the pitch invasion at Orlando Stadium.]
: 2011-05-26 19:25
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