Cape Town - Reyaad
Pieterse has admitted that SuperSport United's Confederations Cup
play-off opponents, Gor Mahia of Kenya, are a closed book to them, but
says they know what to do to book their place in the Group stage of the
continental competition for a second successive year.
Matsatsantsa went all the way to the final in last year’s continental competition but lost to TP Mazembe but a place in the Group stages could go some way to making up for a disappointing domestic league season.
SuperSport overcame Angolan side Petro de Luanda 2-1 over two legs in the first round of the Confederations Cup to secure their play-off place, while they sit in 14th place in the Premiership.
The first leg match of the play-off will be played on April 6-8 in Kenya.
Speaking exclusively to Vodacom Soccer, Pieterse said his side has the experience to go all the way once again and this time bring the trophy home to South Africa.
He said: "Well, it's going to be an interesting encounter playing the Kenyan side in the play-off match.
"We do not know much about them, but we know what we need to do to go all the way and that’s all that matters.
"Look, of course it is not going to be an easy road, but obviously we will try and do the best we can to achieve what we did in the previous campaign."
The former Kaizer Chiefs' goal-minder added: "It’s not going to be easy, but with the players that we have, we know we have the capabilities of reaching the final and even doing better to become victorious in the final this time."
Pieterse also backed his side to overcome a tough domestic season by doing well in their remaining matches to move away from the relegation zone.
A spell of poor results led to the club parting ways with head coach Eric Tinkler, with Kaitano Tembo given the responsibility to steer the ship until the end of the season.
"Obviously to fight relegation in the right way, to have the right attitude to stay up - and you know a place in the top eight is still a possibility because from a team in position four to eight, the difference is just five points,” he said
"A place in the top eight is still there, but for now the focus is on winning our remaining games and of course it’s one game at the time."