Bucs assistant calls for calm

Durban - Ahead of the MTN8 final against Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates assistant coach Teboho Moloi says both teams' head coaches should not put their players under any added pressure despite a huge winners’ prize.

Chiefs and Pirates will battle for the R8m prize in the Wafa-Wafa final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night.

The former Buccaneers dribbling wizard said there is no need to implement certain training methods heading into any Soweto derby as it would unsettle the players.

Moloi, 46, also hinted that supporters of both teams and the media should allow players to do their job without any interference because they are aware of what is expected from them.

“This is a time where you don’t want to put pressure on your players,” said Moloi.

“I think both coaches (Vladimir Vermezovic and Stuart Baxter) have been in the country for a long time and they know the culture.

“They understand that you don’t have to do special trainings for the derby. If you do specific training methods for these games (Chiefs and Pirates) you will be putting your players under a lot of pressure.

“From Monday there has been a huge pressure to all players from the media and supporters.

“You can even sense from the streets that players need to deliver on Saturday. As players, they know what is expected from them and they don’t have to make decisions on the field based on the spectators’ expectations.”

Pirates defeated Bidvest Wits 5-1 on aggregate to book a place in the final, while Amakhosi’s 5-0 aggregate triumph over Platinum Stars was their golden ticket to the title decider.

The last time the two perennial rivals met in the MTN8 final was back in September 2011 when the Buccaneers won 1-0 thanks to an extra-time strike by Oupa Manyisa under Julio Leal’s reign.

Kick-off for is scheduled for 20:15.