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Cape Town - Heading to the much anticipated CAF Champions League final first leg encounter this weekend, Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa says the only way to beat Al Ahly will be to give them all the respect they deserve.
The 1995 champions will battle for the continental crown against the Egyptian giants at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night.
The Bafana Bafana shot-stopper believes it will be important for his team-mates to approach the game as if they are meeting the seven-time winners for the first time instead of relying on history.
“We must respect Ahly and approach the game as if it was our first time playing against them,” Meyiwa told orlandopiratesfc.com.
“This is by no means an easy encounter, Ahly have proven over the years how great a team they are and for this reason we cannot - for one minute - think that the final against them will be a walk in the park.
“We need to give them the respect they deserve and we need to play to the best of our abilities if we want to win this competition.”
Mohamed Youssef's troops will make a trip to South Africa wary of Roger De Sa's charges after a 3-0 thumping in Egypt two months ago.
Youssef, 43, made his intentions clear last month that his desire was to meet the Buccaneers again in the final.
This was after the two sides played to a goalless stalemate on September 22.
The decisive leg will be played at the Cairo National Stadium in Egypt next week, with the first leg encounter to kick off at 20:30 on Saturday.
The 1995 champions will battle for the continental crown against the Egyptian giants at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night.
The Bafana Bafana shot-stopper believes it will be important for his team-mates to approach the game as if they are meeting the seven-time winners for the first time instead of relying on history.
“We must respect Ahly and approach the game as if it was our first time playing against them,” Meyiwa told orlandopiratesfc.com.
“This is by no means an easy encounter, Ahly have proven over the years how great a team they are and for this reason we cannot - for one minute - think that the final against them will be a walk in the park.
“We need to give them the respect they deserve and we need to play to the best of our abilities if we want to win this competition.”
Mohamed Youssef's troops will make a trip to South Africa wary of Roger De Sa's charges after a 3-0 thumping in Egypt two months ago.
Youssef, 43, made his intentions clear last month that his desire was to meet the Buccaneers again in the final.
This was after the two sides played to a goalless stalemate on September 22.
The decisive leg will be played at the Cairo National Stadium in Egypt next week, with the first leg encounter to kick off at 20:30 on Saturday.
