VHAMBLIDINHO
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 Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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Orlando Pirates’ Nigerian midfielder Onyekachi ‘Tico’ Okonkwo has told his Buccaneer teammates they will have to be ready for a battle of minds when they take on CS Sfaxien in Tunisia this weekend.
Okonkwo, who has won two Champions League titles with his former club Enyimba, besting two North African sides, Egypt’s Ismaili and Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel, says he has plenty of tips to pass on to his team mates for the psychological battle ahead.
Bucs jetted out of Johannesburg International Airport tonight (Wednesday) on the first leg of their journey to the Champions League semifinal clash.
They travel to Paris first and then get another flight that will take them to Tunisia for the match on Saturday.
“I know about North Africans,” Tico says. “They like to fall down, slow the game down and play all sorts of tricks. Sometimes, the ball boys will throw two balls onto the pitch just to slow you down, especially when they are leading, or when you want to take a crucial freekick near their goal.
“But we will be ready for them. I have told my teammates that we need to remain calm, ignore their tricks and just focus on our own game.
“That’s how we beat them while I was with Enyimba. Against Ismaili, we beat them by playing their own game by wasting time in the away leg and we won.”
The Buccaneers go into the match with what looks a disheartening goalless first leg score line, however, Okonkwo says he is banking on the Soweto giants’ impressive away record to take them through to the final.
“We have scored in every away match that we played in the Champions League, except the Asec match and I know we will score in this one,” he adds.
The Nigerian says he has also received a number of useful tips from his international teammate and former Enyimba colleague, Obinna Nwaneri, who plays for another top Tunisian side, Esperance.
“We talked about the game when we were together in Lesotho last weekend and he told me a few things which I will pass on secretly to my team mates.”
Kick Off also spoke to Pirates’ coach Milutin Sredojevic they flew out and ‘Micho’ was full of praise for his squad.
“Our anticipation is very high. This is the biggest challenge of my career at this stage and that goes for the players as well.
“I believe in the team and I’m confident that we will deliver. We are well prepared and everyone is very focussed and concentrating on the battle ahead.”
The squad that is travelling to Tunisia comprises of: Avril Phali, Francis Chansa, Lucky Lekgwathi, Edward Malinga, Tonic Chabalala, Lucas Thwala, Kelebogile Mabe, Lehlohonolo Seema, Cavaan Sibeko, Onyekachi Okonkwo, Joseph Makhanya, Gift Leremi, Lebohang Mokoena, Jabu Mahlangu, Phumudzo Manenzhe, Blaise Lelo-Mbele and Benedict Vilakazi.
A notable absentee from the party was the injured Isaac Chansa. |
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