The stage is set for Orlando Pirates to resume their CAF Champions League campaign as they aim to qualify for the quarter-finals of the prestigious competition.
As they went to the FNB Stadium for their Absa Premiership Soweto Derby match against Kaizer Chiefs at the weekend, Pirates had additional luggage with them on the day as they headed straight to the airport after the Amakhosi match to catch a flight to Dubai, and subsequently to Tunisia for this afternoon's match against Espérance Sportive de Tunis.
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"It is just 72 hours, we expected that we shall play at nine in the evening as it was. But it looks like our friends pulled the match (to be earlier) in order to use this chance to think that we are tired," Bucs coach Milutin Sredojevic told the club's YouTube channel.
Sredojevic is concerned that Esperance have had more time to rest as their last match was last Thursday – a 1-0 win over US Tataouine in the Tunisian league.
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"This is the match where two institutions of African football, Orlando Pirates of South Africa and respected home team Esperance, are playing. The trip was not easy. We had a long trip that was really entering in our bonds and it's not easy to recover, you are human beings. You have feelings, senses and emotions. You have your body, you have your limitations, but despite being tired there is still in tank human emotions, feelings and senses that after a big match against Kaizer Chiefs we pull all out and give everything tomorrow (Tuesday) on the field. I said we believe in the players we are having. We want them to see tomorrow like lions in human shape because we are playing a top team with top individuals in the country where it is not easy to be a visiting team. But, as I said, we are on this side representing our badge, our jersey and our institution in the best possible way and we shall tomorrow give our best in order to get good performance (and) results," added the Serbian coach.
