With 11 goals in the ABC Motsepe League thus far, EC Bees striker Bongani Chikila is aware that if his team is to cause an upset and knock Orlando Pirates out of the Nedbank Cup last 32, he will have to have his scoring boots on.
Bees lock horns with the Soweto giants in a David versus Goliath encounter at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane on Sunday (kick-off 3pm).
The Bees leading goalscorer will have to be instrumental if the Bhisho team is to get the better of Bucs, as the coaching staff will look to him for goals.
Coach Chippa Njedu and his assistant Mokete Tsotetsi will be hoping the team and Chikila transfer their fine form in the amateur league to the Ke Yona game.
The 28-year-old former Jomo Cosmos man said the players are raring to play the club’s biggest match yet.
“We have prepared well as the team. We are ready for this game. We have been focusing on one game at a time. We are fortunate to be part of this team because we have a big squad and we are ready, mentally and physically.
“We have to implement what we have been doing during the week. The guys are very excited about the game,” he told journalists yesterday.
The Bloemfontein-born short marksman is aware that all eyes will be on him, so how is he coping under that sort of pressure?
“I believe in the saying that ‘where there’s pressure, there’s success’, so I always take pressure. I prefer to play under pressure. I don’t have a problem, I’ll take a game as it is.
“I have been scoring goals, it’s a normal thing, it’s teamwork. I know to play under pressure, there’s always success in it,” he said.
“I believe I’m going to get one .”
Njedu has admitted that for most of his charges, they normally watch Pirates on TV and to an extent idolise them.
But that will not mean the Crazy Gang will be intimidated as they plan to cause havoc on the field and emulate Maluti FC’s feat by beating the Buccaneers.
“I will not be intimidated because I’ve played with some of the big teams in the PSL, it’s just the first time that I will be playing against Pirates.
“I definitely don’t feel intimidated playing against Pirates,” said Chikila.
Tsotetsi, who played against Pirates while with Kaizer Chiefs, said they have mentally prepared the players for the game.
“I’ve given them the experience I had as a player playing against Orlando Pirates. Obviously, we have to work with them mostly mentally because mental strength is more important,” he said.
Bees players appeared to be relaxed and firmly focused on Sunday’s clash when they trained yesterday.
Mindful of the fact that there has to be a loser on the day, Bees also practised penalty kicks. But if the shocking penalty taking abilities displayed at training yesterday are anything to go by, Bees will be looking to win during regulation time.
Working to the third tier outfit’s favour is the fact that they are a closed book to Bucs.
Njedu is aware that his Pirates counterpart, Kjell Jonevret, who is yet to win in three game since taking over from caretaker coach Augusto Palacios, will be under pressure to deliver.
“We are going there as underdogs and they know nothing about us. We have no pressure going to the game.
“We are going there to enjoy ourselves. We won’t lose anything by losing the game,” the reserved coach said.
The deadly sting
Bees lock horns with the Soweto giants in a David versus Goliath encounter at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane on Sunday (kick-off 3pm).
The Bees leading goalscorer will have to be instrumental if the Bhisho team is to get the better of Bucs, as the coaching staff will look to him for goals.
Coach Chippa Njedu and his assistant Mokete Tsotetsi will be hoping the team and Chikila transfer their fine form in the amateur league to the Ke Yona game.
The 28-year-old former Jomo Cosmos man said the players are raring to play the club’s biggest match yet.
“We have prepared well as the team. We are ready for this game. We have been focusing on one game at a time. We are fortunate to be part of this team because we have a big squad and we are ready, mentally and physically.
“We have to implement what we have been doing during the week. The guys are very excited about the game,” he told journalists yesterday.
The Bloemfontein-born short marksman is aware that all eyes will be on him, so how is he coping under that sort of pressure?
“I believe in the saying that ‘where there’s pressure, there’s success’, so I always take pressure. I prefer to play under pressure. I don’t have a problem, I’ll take a game as it is.
“I have been scoring goals, it’s a normal thing, it’s teamwork. I know to play under pressure, there’s always success in it,” he said.
“I believe I’m going to get one .”
Njedu has admitted that for most of his charges, they normally watch Pirates on TV and to an extent idolise them.
But that will not mean the Crazy Gang will be intimidated as they plan to cause havoc on the field and emulate Maluti FC’s feat by beating the Buccaneers.
“I will not be intimidated because I’ve played with some of the big teams in the PSL, it’s just the first time that I will be playing against Pirates.
“I definitely don’t feel intimidated playing against Pirates,” said Chikila.
Tsotetsi, who played against Pirates while with Kaizer Chiefs, said they have mentally prepared the players for the game.
“I’ve given them the experience I had as a player playing against Orlando Pirates. Obviously, we have to work with them mostly mentally because mental strength is more important,” he said.
Bees players appeared to be relaxed and firmly focused on Sunday’s clash when they trained yesterday.
Mindful of the fact that there has to be a loser on the day, Bees also practised penalty kicks. But if the shocking penalty taking abilities displayed at training yesterday are anything to go by, Bees will be looking to win during regulation time.
Working to the third tier outfit’s favour is the fact that they are a closed book to Bucs.
Njedu is aware that his Pirates counterpart, Kjell Jonevret, who is yet to win in three game since taking over from caretaker coach Augusto Palacios, will be under pressure to deliver.
“We are going there as underdogs and they know nothing about us. We have no pressure going to the game.
“We are going there to enjoy ourselves. We won’t lose anything by losing the game,” the reserved coach said.
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