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Bucs spurred on in trophy hunt

"It's always great to win, especially twice against Chiefs in just over a week"

AFTER clinching the new Carling Black Label Cup on Saturday, Orlando Pirates will sustain their trophy-winning momentum that began with the treble last season, Bucs skipper Lucky Lekgwathi predicted soon after beating Kaizer Chiefs 4-3 on penalties at Soccer City.

The match, which was watched by just over 70,000 people, ended in a goalless draw after 90 minutes of regulation time.

Lekgwathi described the win as the beginning of great things to come for Pirates in the 2011-12 soccer season, which gets under way this weekend.

"It's always great to win, especially twice against Chiefs in just over a week. The team is gelling with the old and new players adapting to the methods of coach Julio Leal. We are in the process of wrapping up our pre-season, there was no better way of doing that than beating Chiefs in a new tournament.

"Our supporters are used to celebrating trophies, the status quo will remain but we have to work hard as a it. It won't be easy because other clubs are reinforcing.

"We are not only planning to do well on the domestic front, we are also eyeing a second gold star by winning the African Champions League.

"We owe it to the fans and the chairman, Dr Irvin Khoza," Lekgwathi said.

Chiefs' stand-in captain, Siphiwe Tshabalala, said: "It was a good game, we did well but it was not our day. Well done, Pirates, for winning the trophy, but we will bounce back. We are targeting the league title. I want to be part of that success."

Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic said the new competition was "a very interesting idea but we must play this type of game at the end of the season. Anyway, congratulations to Pirates."

Pirates' penalties were scored by Oupa Manyisa, Happy Jele, Rooi Mahamutsa and Lekgwathi, with Sameehg Doutie shooting wide. Chiefs' scorers were Tshabalala, Bernard Parker and Gerald Sibeko. Keagan Ritchie and Itumeleng Khune missed.

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