Mthombeni: Casric Have ‘No Fear’ Against Pirates
Casric Stars coach Bucks Mthombeni insists his side will approach their Nedbank Cup Round of 16 clash against Orlando Pirates with no fear.
The Motsepe Foundation Championship outfit, regarded as underdogs in the competition, travels to Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday to face the Soweto giants.
Casric will take on a wounded Pirates side, fresh from their Betway Premiership defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday.
Despite acknowledging the magnitude of the task, Mthombeni admitted that beating Pirates on their home turf will be extremely difficult.
“First of all, I know it’s difficult to play Orlando Pirates at Orlando because if you look at the results, they rarely lose when they play at home,” said Mthombeni, whose team sit in fourth spot in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
“Secondly, their supporters always come out in numbers. But having said that, you never know what is going to happen on the day.”
Game Plan Key for Casric Stars
Mthombeni emphasised that preparation and discipline will be crucial if his side are to cause an upset.
“We are going there to stick to our game plan and have no fear — anything can happen,” he said.
“The important thing for us is not to concede an early goal. We can’t go there and play an open game; we must remain disciplined and stick to our structure.
“We are a team that does not concede many goals. This year we’ve had better results at home and we’ve also been scoring. In our last seven matches, we have conceded only three goals.”
He also highlighted Pirates’ defensive record.
“If you look at Pirates, they conceded only two goals in nine matches before the Sundowns game. So, if we defend well and contain the pressure for the first 30 minutes, the result can go either way.
“After Wednesday’s match, I know Pirates were hoping for at least a draw. The game was very tactical, and I think they will come at us strongly.
“But we must make sure we stick to our plan and that our players show no fear when we step onto the field, even if the stadium is at full capacity,” Mthombeni concluded.
