Why Jose Riveiro’s Pirates pose tricky test for Sundowns

Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Hlompho Kekana says Orlando Pirates pose a tricky test when the two sides meet in the MTN8 second leg semifinal. 

Sundowns will welcome the Soweto giants at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium at 15:00.

The two teams played out to a goalless draw a fortnight ago at Orlando Stadium. 

Hlompho believes his former club are much stronger now than when they faced the Buccaneers in the first leg. 

However, the ex-Bafana Bafana international is concerned about the expectation being placed on the holders, Masandawana. 

But based on the first leg performance, the legend reckons that the game can be “anyone’s game.”

KEKANA SPEAKS…

“It can be anyone’s game looking at the fact that these two teams when they meet they produce goals,” Kekana told FARPost.

“I think it’s going to be a tricky game for Sundowns, having not been able to score away and not even threatening the box of Orlando Pirates. It’s going to be a tricky one in a sense of psychological after the noise in the first leg.

“So, I hope they take it and try to play their normal match which is difficult for players to really play their normal game because it gives so much excitement for football fanatics and people who are just in the neural just to talk about the game.

The Zebediela-born retired footballer continued: “So, as players, if you don’t get the balance between that you get carried away with the moment and the occasion. And it becomes difficult for the team and if it’s difficult for the team it becomes difficult for you as a player.

“They just have to apply themselves better than they did in the first leg.

“I think this is an opportunity for both teams to show us what the second leg of the semifinal looks like.”