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Jerry Sikhosana: Orlando Pirates can still win Confederation Cup Final against Etoile du Sahel

READ: Pirates player ratings vs Etoile

Pirates conceded a late goal in a 1-1 draw with Etoile in the first leg at Orlando Stadium this past weekend.

Eric Tinkler's men will contest the tournament decider in Tunisia on Sunday.

Bucs were in a similar situation when they won the CAF Champions League Final against Asec Mimosas in 1995. The Sea Robbers drew the first leg 2-2 in Johannesburg before winning 1-0 in Abidjan via the boot of Sikhosana.

“We were in the same scenario and we were not happy,” Sikhosana tells snl24.com/kickoff.

“If you look in 1995 we won all our home games prior to the finals and in the finals we started at home. The first leg was at home, which was something we were not used to. We disappointed with the results at home.

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“We went to training on Tuesday. We started talking together, gathering together. After losing the coach it was more difficult but we told ourselves we are gonna go there and compete.

“This what I expect now from players, they need to go out there and compete.”

Sikhosana, however, was disappointed with the Buccaneers' approach in Soweto.

“After getting the goal they started to defend. This was not a good approach of the game, you saw the likes of Makola and Thabo Rakhale more at the back helping Jele. That’s not the type of game we want to see.

”These are players that are more offensive than defensive and the set-up on Saturday was good for Pirates to play buy yes maybe they wanted to protect the lead.”

Sikhosana concludes with a message for Tinkler's charges: “It's not end of the world, we still have the second leg. They scored one goal away, we scored one at home. You are capable of doing this away. You have shown with the likes of Zamalek where you scored four.

“Ahly you scored four, this is another team from North Africa. So go out there and be confident, do your best. You have done it before and make us proud as South Africans.”

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