Orlando Pirates duo Innocent Maela and Miguel Timm have two different experiences of playing in the cup final for the Soweto giants this season.
Maela missed the MTN8 final last November when they beat AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium due to the injury.
On the other hand, Timm was at his best, getting the man of the match award as he played the game of his life.
This coming weekend Pirates will face Sekhukhune United in the Nedbank Cup final at Loftus Stadium on Saturday night (18:00), gunning for the major cup trophy.
Both players are fully fit, entering the second half of the game when they crushed AmaZulu 4-0 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday to finish second and qualify for the CAF Champions League.
Maela, who has been hampered by injuries and a bit of red card suspension in between, also entered the Usuthu game in the second half, but will face stiff competition in defence.
Coach Jose Riveiro, in the absence of Maela, has found a formula as Paseko Mako has been doing well on the left, and can also slot in on the right hand side.
Both players said Pirates will play to win the Ke Yona Cup they have not won in nine years.
“We are obviously going to this game with a lot of hunger and desire to get that feeling that we had in the MTN8 final,” said Timm, who won this cup with Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) in the 2020/21 season.
“I must say it is an addictive one, it has become a virus in the locker room in a good way and we are looking forward to the weekend and we hope we come together and lift the trophy.”
Maela added: “What we can promise is the team that will play with dedication, a team that will play to win, a team that is ready to compete and play for one another.
“God willingly we win the match. But we will follow the coach’s game plan, his instructions and how we will approach the match.”
