Pirates leave for Tunis to remake history in SA football
WHILE Roger de Sa relishes Orlando Pirates' most significant match in the African Champions League since 2006, the coach has warned his players that the second-leg semifinal clash against Esperance at Stade Olympique de Radès in Tunis on Saturday will be a mental challenge.
De Sa and his troops leave for Tunisia tonight.
Esperance, the 2011 Champions League winners, held the Buccaneers to a goalless draw at Orlando Stadium almost two weeks ago.
Their celebrations following that stalemate away from home signalled the mammoth task that Pirates face in the return leg.
However, De Sa yesterday backed his troops for at least a scoring draw against Esperance, which would be enough to see them through to the final on the away-goal rule.
"For this match, we really have to be well-prepared psychologically, because the home fans won't make it easy for us," he told the club's website.
''We have had it worse in this tournament and I don't think whatever happens in that match or during our stay in Tunisia will shock the guys."
De Sa was referring to the "worse than a movie" 1-0 play-off defeat against TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi in Congo Brazzaville in May - a tie Pirates won 3-2 on aggregate to reach the group stages.
This was despite a TV blackout the hosts engineered by barring the SABC's broadcasting crew from the stadium, a controversial red card and two ''dubious" penalties that goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa saved.
Such farcical scenes are not expected in Tunis, but De Sa said the club still expected a backlash.
Should the Buccaneers get a positive result, they will play in their first cup final since winning the competition in 1995.
Esperance have reached three consecutive finals since 2010, winning the competition once.
"We talk to the players all the time. In fact, we need to prepare ourselves as if this is already a final," the coach said. "We expect the home side to throw everything at us and push for a win, but they know equally that we can cause problems and it should be an interesting match to watch."
Esperance have an astonishing record at home, having lost just three of their 60 Champions League matches there in a period spanning 12 years.
Although that statistic is intimidating, the Buccaneers travelled to Egypt to face Al-Ahly in the group stages and handed the seven-time champions a 3-0 drubbing - their worst defeat at home in the Champions League, although the game was played in front of empty stands.
Pirates will arrive in Tunis tomorrow afternoon ahead of Saturday evening's (8pm SA time) showdown.