Buccaneers taking Crystal Lake seriously

Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro insists they won't underestimate minnows Crystal Lake in the Nedbank Cup round of 32 at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, February 24.

Kick-off is at 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM:

The Buccaneers only discovered their opponents on Monday evening after SAFA arbitration finally resolved the matter between Crystal Lake and Middelburg United.

The Mighty Middies contested the result after their regional rivals ran out 1-0 victors in the preliminary round of the competition, but the case was thrown out, according to SAFA Mpumalanga secretary Bevan Mahlangu.

Crystal Lake didn't play last weekend drew, but they drew 1-1 with FC Benfica on February 11 to go two games unbeaten since suffering a 1-0 loss to MP Highlanders on January 28.

Pirates, who are the defending champions, returned to domestic action last weekend as they held DStv Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns to a 1-1 draw at Loftus Versfeld despite playing the final 36 minutes with a man down after Miguel Timm was sent off for two bookable offences.

Riveiro's side improved their fortunes in the league after being dumped out of the Carling Knockout by Richards Bay on penalties in the quarterfinals, going unbeaten in their next six games before suffering back-to-back defeats against SuperSport United (3-1) and Stellenbosch (3-2) in their final two matches of 2023.

WHAT WAS SAID:

Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro

"We are defending the title. It is a competition that I really like. We will prepare ourselves as usual and we are going to take the game very seriously because we had an experience last season playing against [lower-league] opponents like Dondol Stars, All Stars and Venda Football Club. It was not an easy part for us.

"We know clearly what the objective is for us and we are going to fight the same way we did against Mamelodi Sundowns."

Crystal Lake president Joe Mhlanga

"We have won all nine games in the Nedbank Cup knockout competition to get here, this is game number 10 and we have been drawn at home against Orlando Pirates.

"The boys are ready, are highly charged and ready to face one of the biggest teams in the South African league."

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Orlando Pirates - Evidence Makgopa has returned from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a new-found confidence after helping Bafana Bafana win the bronze medal at the continental showpiece in Ivory Coast earlier this month. The striker scored one goal in seven appearances for Hugo Broos' side and featured for Pirates in the stalemate with the Brazilians last Saturday.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: (Previous Meetings)

Matches - 0

Crystal Lake wins - 0

Pirates wins - 0

Draws - 0