Orlando Pirates captain Nkosinathi Sibisi has labelled Sunday’s Soweto Derby clash with Kaizer Chiefs as a ‘Game of Consequences,’ making a bold demand from his teammates to rise to the required mental standard.
The Soweto giants clash at FNB Stadium in their second Betway Premiership meeting of the season. After Pirates beat Chiefs 3-0 in the first match at the end of February, Amakhosi are keen on hitting back.
Not only do Chiefs want to restore their derby pride and walk away with bragging rights, but at stake is also maintaining high chances of a top-three finish. The Glamour Boys are third on the table, with seven points more than fourth-placed AmaZulu FC and a game in hand.
There is also an opportunity for Chiefs to reduce the gap between them and Pirates to nine points. But Sibisi is aware of what is at stake for title-chasing Pirates and has quickly made demands from the men he leads.
SIBISI: PIRATES’ MENTALITY MUST BE SPOT-ON FOR HIGH-STAKES CLASH WITH CHIEFS
“For us as players, the mentality has to be spot-on because it’s not your normal game, and it’s a game of consequences. We know we have to deliver,” said Sibisi.
“For us, it is just to get the mentality in the right space and be in the right space to play that game.”
Already, Sibisi is pleased with the attitude displayed by his teammates in recent games, where they have managed to show character following some setbacks. After Siwelele FC halted the Buccaneers’ three-match winning streak with a 1-1 draw, Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side responded by hammering TS Galaxy 6-0.
Also, after being held 2-2 by Richards Bay FC, Pirates came back to beat AmaZulu FC 3-0 in their most recent game.
“I think for us, just like in life, we suffer setbacks. You mentioned the draws we played against Siwelele and Richards Bay, but it’s how you move forward, how you pick yourselves up, that is important,” Sibisi went on.
“I think the boys showed character to say after the game against Siwelele, we won [6-0] against TS Galaxy and kept a clean sheet. We suffered a setback against Richards Bay recently, but we also picked ourselves up again.
“That’s the kind of mentality and attitude that the boys are showing throughout the season, and I think with this kind of mentality, surely something has to give.”
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