Orlando Pirates will be “tough as hell” - Benni McCarthy

by Graeme Jackson

Wednesday Mar 14, 2018. 17:30

Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy says facing Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup tonight will be “tough as hell”.

The Citizens host the Buccaneers at Cape Town Stadium this evening in a battle for the last quarterfinal berth in South Africa’s FA Cup.

Pirates come into the game in fine form, having won four matches in succession, and McCarthy admits he would have preferred to face them later in the competition.

“I’m not that excited, because with the form that Pirates are in, I would’ve wanted them maybe at a later stage in the competition,” he explained.

“I would have liked to have a proper ‘Ke Yona’ opponent, the likes of Steenberg United at Cape Town Stadium – that would have been such a blessing in the sky.

“Unfortunately we got Pirates, but the motivation factor for the players is there.

“We lost against them in the league last time, but did we really lose against them?

“We got a goal waved away, so there’s matters we need to settle, but it’ll be tough as hell because Pirates are coming of age and finding their rhythm, and it seems like Micho [Sredojevic] and Rhulani [Mokwena] are creating a good vibe and atmosphere in the Pirates camp, so they’ll be flying high.”

The City coach added that he hopes for rain in Cape Town, knowing that Johannesburg teams aren’t quite as comfortable in wet, windy conditions.

“Home advantage always counts, and hopefully the rain will come and bless us – we know the Joburg teams love playing when it rains in Cape Town,” McCarthy added sarcastically.

“So I’ll be doing the rain dance, praying for rain. I know they leave the six studs at home when it rains!”