Ahead of the CAF Confederations Cup quarterfinal draw on Tuesday, Orlando Pirates coach Mandla Ncikazi has given insight into how his side plans to deal with the dirty tricks that is synonymous with playing on the continent.
Travelling in shoddy busses, sleeping in rundown hotels, training on unmanicured fields or eating questionable foods, are all antics that South African teams, as well as the national team have in the past had to deal with when playing in continental competitions.
It is for that reason that Pirates who had a stellar qualifying campaign took matters into their own hands by qualifying top of their group, which would ensure a home second leg fixture in the last eight, giving them an advantage in their quest to reach the competition's last four.
"What was important for us was what was in our control, finish on top of your group so that you can play your quarterfinal first match away from home. You would better be in that position where you are in control when you come back to second leg. I've learnt that in CAF when you have to play the second leg, you could see the refereeing was not the best that you would love. This was just a lesson," Ncikazi told journalists at a press conference.
"It's worse when you play away from home, you saw what happened with the national team when they were playing World Cup qualifiers. So, one, playing in CAF has taught me that the hostility and the refereeing, you have to play against that. It's better to play away and play the second leg at home but I think we achieved that," he said.
Ncikazi says Pirates are not particularly phased by any opponent they might be drawn against on Tuesday, as all teams who have progressed to the last eight will be tough.
"Let's see who's next. We would have loved to choose certain teams but at this stage its dangerous to choose whether you finish second or third. In any case at this stage of the competition you'll find tough opponents," he added.
