BENNI McCARTHY
UQWEQWE lomqeqeshi waseNingizimu Afrika, uBenni McCarthy, luxwayise i-Orlando Pirates ngobumqoka bokuqinisa isikwati sayo uma izimisele ngokufika ezingeni leMamelodi Sundowns, kwiBetway Premiership nakwiCaf Champions League.
IPirates izokwamukela i-Al Ahly yase-Egypt emdlalweni ka-Group C weChampions League ngoMgqibelo ngo-3 ntambama, e-Orlando Stadium, eSoweto.
EZimnyama lapho uMcCarthy wyegijima khona kusukela ngo-2011 kuya ku-2013, ziqale isizini ngendlela ethembisayo osekuzenze zathishwa ngabaningi ngokuthi zizogudluza iSundowns esicongweni sebhola laseMzansi.
ISundowns eyaba ngompetha beChampions League ngo-2016, isisidle iphindelela amahlandla ayisikhombisa kulandelana isicoco seligi enkulu yaseNingizimu Afrika.
Ukuqala kwePirates njengomlilo wequbula kwiPremiership kuqondane nokuqala kweSundowns ngebatha uma uyiqhathanisa namasizini adlule.
Ukungayinqobi iMTN 8 neCarling Knockout akuzange kunakeke kangako ngoba iSundowns ayijwayele ukwenza kahle kule miqhudelwano.
Inkinga isendleleni eqale ngayo iligi lapho esivele isishayiwe kuyona nakwiChampions League, lapho ilahle amaphuzu kowokuqala weqoqo ekhaya.
UBenni, obekhuluma nabezindaba emcimbini weCarling Knockout eGoli maphakathi nesonto, uzwakalise ukuba nethemba ngendlela iPirates eqale ngayo kodwa waphinda wabuya nganeno.
“Okwenziwa yiPirates kusobala futhi ongaboni ukuthi iya phambili yingoba evele engafuni ukubona. Kusukela kufike uJose (Riveiro) iPirates iyiqembu elehlukile okufakazelwa yimpumelelo yayo emiqhudelwaneni yeligi. Indlela eqale ngayo kulokhu ikhombisa ukukhula kweqembu uma uliqhathanisa nangesizini edlule. Bakhona abadlali beqophelo baningi kodwa abanele ngokwami,” kusho uMcCarthy.
“Kulokhu iPirates idlala imiqhudelwano eminingi enzima futhi engingangabazi ukuthi izoyixhoza ngokwabadlali ezobasebenzisa. Lokhu kusha kwiPirates ngakho-ke akufanele sisheshe siyituse kakhulu singakaboni okuningi. ISundowns isijwayele lesi simo ngakho-ke uma iPirates ifuna ukubalwa neSundowns ngokwami kufanele isiqinise nakakhulu isikimu,” kweluleka uBenni.
UBenni ukhuluma kanjena nje, iPirates izothola ithuba lokungena emakethe yabadlali ngoba kuzovuleka iwindi lokushintsha abadlali ngenyanga ezayo.
Ompetha beChampions League bango-1995, baya kulo mdlalo belinyalelwe yinqwaba yabadlali esingabala kubona u-Olisah Ndah, Thapelo Xoki, Bandile Shandu, Thabiso Libitso, Goodman Mosele, Zakhele Lepasa, noSandile Mthethwa.