Pirates responds

Pirates, Spurs showdown tonight!

 

For the Buccaneers, the venue (Mbombela) should bring good memories as it was here, where they clinched the Nedbank Cup in May this year to complete the treble.
Speaking to Orlandopiratesfc.com at the press conference this morning, a very relaxed Julio Leal said preparations have gone well, "the team is ready and now it’s Showtime."
“We completed our preparations for this match yesterday. I am happy with the commitment of the players and I have no doubt they will compete very well, play good football and of course strive for positive results, which matters most,” said Leal.
“We are aware of a team of Spurs' calibre and their intentions for this match, especially after their loss to Chiefs at the weekend. But, I have confidence in my team as we have enough quality to match our opponents."
He added: "All in all, the team is ready to give it their best shot."
Though the match will be the first for Leal and his charges’ two high profile clashes against Spurs this evening and arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in two days time, the Londoners will be looking to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat to Chiefs in the opening match of the 2011 Vodacom Challenge event at the weekend.
“The lads were very disappointed with the results over the weekend and they really want to make it up for the loss against Chiefs,” said Spurs ambassador and club legend Garry Mabbutt.
“Preparations have gone well and the guys wrapped up the programme for tonight’s match this morning. The spirit is good; you can see the lads want to make things right,” he added.
Mabbutt also hinted that South African duo Bongani Khumalo (late substitute against Chiefs) and Steven Pienaar, who didn’t play at all might feature in the team against Bucs. The English outfit will also be boosted on the bench by the availability of head coach Harry Redknapp who joined up with the team on Monday, having missed the Chiefs clash.  
Bucs, Spurs to wear safety symbols armbands
Meanwhile, Pirates and Spurs will wear special armbands during the match in order to raise awareness for the Decade of Action for road safety and honour the memory of uTata Madiba’s granddaughter Zenani Mandela, who was killed in a car crash on the eve of the FIFA World Cup held in South Africa last year.
The yellow tag for the UN Decade of action is intended to serve as the ‘AIDS ribbon’ for road safety, unifying global support for the effort to save millions of lives on the world’s roads.