NEWS
Davids – Why Ofori Wanted To Hit All Of Our Players
Orlando Pirates co-coach Fadlu Davids has revealed why they had to calm goalkeeper Richard Ofori down in the changing room after their CAF Confederation Cup semi-final at home.
The Ghanaian goalkeeper was furious after conceding in the dying minutes in the second leg against Al Ahli Tripoli, which gave his side a late scare but they still advanced 2-1 on aggregate after winning 2-0 a week before in Benghazi.
Davids believes, in hindsight, the mood after the 2-1 aggregate win was probably a good thing, as they shouldn’t be celebrating reaching the final, but rather winning the trophy.
“We made the final by losing 1-0. We came into the changing room and there were mixed emotions, Ofori wanted to hit all of our players in that moment, we had to calm him down, because we conceded a goal,” Davids told reporters.
“Goalkeepers as crazy as they are, they don’t like to concede and the mood in the change room after the match was perfect, in hindsight. It was not a lot of celebrations.
“Because the celebrations are for after the final, not for making the final. And that is the message and that is the mindset us as Orlando Pirates want to go into this final, get the job done. That’s the main message.”
Davids also insisted Pirates are going to Uyo to come back with the trophy, because they can’t rest on the laurels of just reaching another final and coming back without silverware.
“We playing it to win, that’s it,” he added.
“In our previous match, you always think about the ways you play a motivational video. Do you have an emotional approach, besides that you talk about after the tactical preparation.
“Do you show a motivational video? Do you rile the players up? Do you get them emotionally charged before the game? Or is it a game where you try to keep them calm.
“And actually the non-playing squad then sent the video to us the technical team and we created something where they made a video of encouragement and a quote was said that nobody remembers the finalist that loses the match, and that was the message.
“It was as clear as that and immediately turns on the switch and the players thinking, to say we don’t want to go to the final and celebrate yes, we’ve got to the final without winning the final.
“So the disappointment in our previous match was maybe a blessing in disguise.
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