No letting up as Bucs eye Usuthu

DESPITE one of the biggest results of his tenure at Orlando Pirates, coach Roger de Sa says the next game is just as important.

That game is against AmaZulu in an Absa Premiership match at FNB Stadium today.

The Buccaneers achieved one of their greatest victories in their 76-year history as they thumped African champions Al Ahly 3-0 in their Caf Champions League match in Cairo at the weekend.

Now Pirates are tasked with taking that form back to the local league in a complete change of focus.

“As a coach it’s a pretty big highlight. But I think every game is special,” said De Sa.

“You’re as good as your last game and you just have to keep going in that way.”

De Sa took over the reins at Pirates after three games in their league campaign last season when the team had a poor start and confidence was dwindling.

“I don’t set myself targets because there is no end, it only continues.

“I don’t worry too much about the past. I worry about my dreams and that is now in the past. We have to worry about the next one and we’ll dream about the next one.” Switching from the African competition back to the Premiership would indeed be an adjustment, but the comprehensive result over the Egyptian side would give Pirates much needed momentum in their season opener.

“We’re happy with the result on the weekend. We have to take it forward, take the positives out of the game.

AmaZulu coach Craig Rosslee is wary of the high-flying Bucs after their African exploits.

“It’s important that we get off to a good start,” said Rosslee, who expressed confidence in his own troops while praising Pirates’ “fantastic and historic result”.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper and top performer for Pirates in their win over Al Ahly, Senzo Meyiwa, played down the extra travelling his team had done ahead of the AmaZulu fixture.

“If you want it, you have to fight. Forget about the travelling and everything, you need to know what you want,” said Meyiwa.

“You must want it more than the opposition.” — Sapa

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