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Leal plotting for Spurs tussle

Johannesburg - Orlando Pirates coach Julio Leal is already planning for the Bucs' final with Tottenham after his side beat Kaizer Chiefs on Thursday.

The Brazilian watched with pride as Tlou Segolela netted the winner in the 59th minute in Port Elizabeth to seal a mouth-watering Vodacom Challenge encounter with Harry Redknapp's Spurs on Saturday at Coca-Cola Park.

But the Bucs mentor is all set to put his men through their paces on Friday in preparation for the clash in Johannesburg.

"We will be on the park getting ready," said Leal. "Those who didn't play much (on Thursday) will practice and those who did will recuperate.

"The idea is to maintain the momentum and keep most of the squad ready for the weekend."

The 60-year-old believes Chiefs were the better side in the first half and were well prepared, but reckons his men from Orlando came back strong to close out the match.

Leal added: "The second half we could play our game... little touches and passes."

As for man-of-the-match Segolela, he believes he is just taking Thursday's triumph in his stride and remains focussed on the must-win tussle with the north Londoners.

"We take each game as it comes and enjoy ourselves so we can show our talent," said the winger.

Meanwhile, Amakhosi chief Vladimir Vermezovic attributes his side's defeat at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium to fatigue, which also led to a collapse in concentration for Segolela's goal.

"We had a couple of opportunities in the first half," said the Serbian. "But the players tired and in the second half we made a big mistake for the goal.

"It's still pre-season. If their legs were fresher we would see something more.

"I still believe in my team. In two, maybe three, weeks time we'll be kicking."

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