Cape Town City ready to steer Pirates off course in MTN8 semis ...

The MTN8 semifinals kick off Tuesday at 19:00, with Cape Town City set to host the defending champions Orlando Pirates at the Cape Town Stadium.

Orlando Pirates enter the semifinals as the team to beat, having won the MTN8 in consecutive seasons. Their dominance in this competition has been particularly evident in two-legged ties, and they recently demonstrated their formidable form by defeating SuperSport United 3-1 after extra time in the quarterfinals.

Additionally, they have carried their momentum into the continental stage, comfortably beating Disciples FC 4-0 in the second leg of the CAF Champions League first preliminary round.

Cape Town City coach Eric Tinkler is fully aware of his team’s challenge.

“The qualities – they’ve got so many qualities – you know, they’ve got a massive squad to choose from; their preparation has been exceptional, obviously being able to go to Spain and play against the type of opposition they’ve played. At the same time, we saw them drawing away to a team from Madagascar, so they have frailties,”

Despite the strength of their opponents, Tinkler remains optimistic.

“We’ve got to go out there with a full belief in ourselves, know where their strengths lie, they are a very good team on transition into attack, they’re a team that likes to build up and play through phases,” he added.

According to Tinkler, a crucial factor in tonight’s game is the Pirates’ significant fanbase, which often makes away games feel like home games for them.

“Pirates playing at home or away is always a home game. They get massive support, they get massive crowds, but on a personal note, I’ve always felt the fuller the stadium, whether it’s your spectators or the opposition spectators, it makes you raise your game to another level,”

He also stressed the importance of keeping a clean sheet in the home leg, noting, “It’s very, very important to keep that clean sheet, especially when you’re playing at home. That’s got to be the primary factor for us to make sure that we give ourselves more than a chance when we go away from home.”

The match is expected to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams eager to secure a spot in the final.

POWER Sports