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Cape Town - Platinum Stars skipper Vuyo Mere says his team is well prepared and ready to battle for the title when they face Soweto giants Orlando Pirates in the final of the MTN8 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
Platinum Stars defeated Free State Stars 3-0 and Bidvest Wits 6-3 on aggregate on their way to the final of the R8 million winner-take-all competition.
The Buccaneers overcame SuperSport United 4-3 on penalties and arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 on aggregate to book a date with the debutant Tycoons of the North West Province.
Speaking exclusively to Sport24, the 29-year-old right-back revealed the hunger and ambitions within the Dikwena camp.
“We are well prepared. We want to work hard, we are hungry for success plus we are all ambitious,” said Mere.
“Before kick-off, I will tell the boys to go out there and enjoy themselves. Go out there and write history for yourselves.”
“Hopefully, we will be the ones lifting the trophy at the end of the game,” he added.
The Bloemfontein-born defender also hinted that Dikwena would not be intimidated by the expected full-house of mainly Pirates fans as his team-mates are not under any pressure to perform due to their “underdog” status.
“When you play big teams like Pirates, Chiefs and Sundowns, you don’t have to be pressured to win.”
“We are going to this game as the underdogs, in other words by being in this final we have already achieved what we failed to achieve in the past.”
“We are not going to underestimate our opponents; we will give them all the respect they deserve.”
The former Mamelodi Sundowns defender did not hide the fact that he would be thrilled to lift the trophy, as his name would go down in Stars' history books as the first captain to guide Dikwena to the MTN8 glory.
“It means a lot to me to be in the final. I am the first captain to lead Platinum Stars to this Cup final and winning it will be a highlight of my career as my name will be in the history books of the club”.
As Allan Freese's men will be eyeing their first success in this competition, Roger de Sa’s troops will be looking to win it for the third time in four years.
The match will kick-off at 20:15.
Platinum Stars defeated Free State Stars 3-0 and Bidvest Wits 6-3 on aggregate on their way to the final of the R8 million winner-take-all competition.
The Buccaneers overcame SuperSport United 4-3 on penalties and arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 on aggregate to book a date with the debutant Tycoons of the North West Province.
Speaking exclusively to Sport24, the 29-year-old right-back revealed the hunger and ambitions within the Dikwena camp.
“We are well prepared. We want to work hard, we are hungry for success plus we are all ambitious,” said Mere.
“Before kick-off, I will tell the boys to go out there and enjoy themselves. Go out there and write history for yourselves.”
“Hopefully, we will be the ones lifting the trophy at the end of the game,” he added.
The Bloemfontein-born defender also hinted that Dikwena would not be intimidated by the expected full-house of mainly Pirates fans as his team-mates are not under any pressure to perform due to their “underdog” status.
“When you play big teams like Pirates, Chiefs and Sundowns, you don’t have to be pressured to win.”
“We are going to this game as the underdogs, in other words by being in this final we have already achieved what we failed to achieve in the past.”
“We are not going to underestimate our opponents; we will give them all the respect they deserve.”
The former Mamelodi Sundowns defender did not hide the fact that he would be thrilled to lift the trophy, as his name would go down in Stars' history books as the first captain to guide Dikwena to the MTN8 glory.
“It means a lot to me to be in the final. I am the first captain to lead Platinum Stars to this Cup final and winning it will be a highlight of my career as my name will be in the history books of the club”.
As Allan Freese's men will be eyeing their first success in this competition, Roger de Sa’s troops will be looking to win it for the third time in four years.
The match will kick-off at 20:15.
