Pyramids FC coach Krunoslav Jurčić has described the anticipated full stadium for Sunday’s crucial CAF Champions League final as “a miracle.”
The Egyptian side will host Betway Premiership champions Sundowns at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, with kick-off at 7 PM SA time. The Croatian mentor has previously stated that his team has lacked fan support in their current campaign, making a full stadium for the final a significant boost.
Sundowns and Pyramids played a 1-1 draw in Pretoria a week ago in the first-leg of the final, and the winner of Sunday’s tie will be crowned African champions.
PYRAMIDS FC COACH EXPECTS SUPPORT FROM EGYPTIANS
“We’re expecting a lot of people at the stadium, this is a miracle for Pyramids FC and Egyptian football,” he told journalists.
“A lot of people coming … they were speaking very nice about Pyramids. They’re supporters of other clubs. But they’re coming tomorrow to see Pyramids because Pyramids is an Egyptian club.
“Tomorrow, all of the Egyptian clubs will be for Pyramids… This is our success, this is a miracle for us because I know what was here one and a half year ago and three months when I came here. I know the situation…and how many people were coming to our games.”
Meanwhile, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso believes that whether the stadium is full or not will not make a difference. In fact, the Portuguese mentor said he would rather play the match in a full stadium.
“I think that the fact that there are no people on the stands will not affect us. I think there will be people on the stands – more or less neutral,” he said.
“Pyramids are used to playing without fans, and they’re fighting for the Championship. Or still they’re still hoping to win the Championship. So, they’re used to that…
“We’re used to performing with fans and without because our stadium sometimes has a lot of fans, sometimes not so many. But the team is mentally strong to cope with that.
“We like to play with fans; we like to feel the vibration from the outside. Even when it is not from our fans and comes from the opponents fans. I think that when you reach the level of a player like Denis [Onyango] … everybody wants to play in stadiums that are full.”
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