Orlando Pirates will have to put the disappointment of their Telkom Knockout loss behind them as they face up to Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday evening.
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This Premiership encounter takes place at the Loftus Stadium, kick-off set for 19:30.
The Buccaneers go into this game having being eliminated on penalties by Bloemfontein Celtic in the TKO on Sunday.
The tie ended 3-3 after 120 minutes, with Bucs having led 3-1 going into the 89th minute.
Losing the match would have been a rude reminder to the Pirates players that chances need to be taken and games finished off when the opportunities are there - Roger de Sa hopes his charges will at least be stronger for the experience.
"We cannot carry on like this," de Sa told the club's official website. "We missed a lot of chances (against Celtic) and at the end we were punished for our wastefulness in front of goal.
"Coming into this game against Sundowns we need a change of attitude. Matches are only won after the final whistle and that's why the players need to play hard until that final whistle."
"This will be a different match and we will try our best to get maximum points - it is never going to be easy for us to try getting full points from a team like Sundowns but I think the guys will be ready to fight - we need the three points and we will fight for it."
The Sea Robbers will be without Rooi Mahamutsa, the defender ruled out for the rest of the year after tearing his Achilles against Celtic.
The Brazilians, meanwhile, appear to be a team slowly turning the corner after a terrible start to the season.
Downs drew their last league game 0-0 at Ajax Cape Town, and on the weekend they booked a place in the TKO last-four by beating AmaZulu 2-0.
In the past, the poor start to campaign would have cost any Sundowns coach his job, but Johan Neeskens has been allowed to soldier on.
Beating the defending league champions, currently in third position, would be a great statement of intent for Neeskens and his side, who are level on points with 15th and 16th placed Chippa United and Usuthu.
The Dutchman is remaining cautions after the Amazulu victory, but does feel that things are starting to look up.
"It's good to pick up some good results now and with it you can see that everyone also gets more confident," he said.
"But we're still far away from how I want us to be playing and where we probably can be.
"We have to take things step-by-step, but if we take the last three results, I can be very positive."
Your Comments
Gem365
"Blame on Bucs underperfomance is on the coaching staff. The Treble tag is gone. It took much effort for the team to get to were it is, i.e. winning and winning ok. It is unthinkable for Bucs to buy +7 new players in the new season. These are good players but its unfortunate they will soon be forgoten or remebered for their poor performance, reason = no match fitness or game time.
This player rotational system is killing SA football. To have +35 registered players is just not on. Players simply dont know when they will play again. There is guise that players are injured when it is clear that the player has underperformed.With World class teams I bet, you can name a regular starting line up with less errors, .i.e with one or two new faces in the team. Specific to Bucs perfomance recently, fielding +4-5 new players in starting lineup has been their undoing. Myeni,Moholo, Khuzwayo, whilst they have pontential its been asking too much of them and believe you me its going to strain and destroy them along the way. Masalesa has been exceptional thus far. Its difficult to understand how Bucs signed Ntofontofo and make him a regular starter ahead of ever-improving campaigners i.e. Thulasizwe and Segolea, even Mabena is fit the tag. Puting Benny and Takesure in the picture complicates matters. Think of Droba development, he will soon jump the ship like Exllent Walaza. Moreso these new players were brought by Njenje, who has been with development. I pity Ntshumayelo. One wonder if there wasnt fringe players from development. Last but not least, since some of these players as well as the head coach are from Wits, they seem to enjoy automatic choice. Rodger with due respect, not so Happy People are watching and more important is, results will judge you, please tread carefull. Oncemore, please keep Lekgathi inthe starting lineup unless he asks not to be included, He is our Baresi!"
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