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Etoile target Bucs defence

Thamsanqa Gabuza and Orlando Pirates players celebrates during the Absa Premiership match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at FNB Stadium on October 31, 2015 in Soweto. Picture credits: Gallo Images
Thamsanqa Gabuza and Orlando Pirates players celebrates during the Absa Premiership match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at FNB Stadium on October 31, 2015 in Soweto. Picture credits: Gallo Images

With a 10-day Fifa international break having preceded the tie, Orlando Pirates and Etoile du Sahel have had time to pore over the DVD evidence of each other as they square up for the CAF Confederation Cup final.

Pirates host Etoile in the first leg at Orlando Stadium tomorrow (8pm kickoff). The second leg is on November 29 in Sousse.

Etoile took a charter flight to Johannesburg yesterday, stopping in Douala, Cameroon, to pick up midfielder Franck Kom, who had done duty in the Indomitable Lions' World Cup qualifier win over Niger.

Etoile clearly know how the Buccaneers play, and don't mind saying it.

"We've been training to counter an opponent with a quick game in attack, two dangerous strikers, in particular [Kermit] Erasmus, and two wide players who constantly create danger coming into the centre attack to create the surplus," assistant coach Ridha Jeddim told the French-language La Presse de Tunisie.

"But the defence are quite slow, which could help us surprise them."

Head coach Faouzi Benzarti said Etoile must find a balance between defence and attack against a team whose attacking potential has won respect throughout north Africa.

 

Tinkler, too, has been scrutinising the DVDs. Some of his players who have returned from Bafana Bafana duty in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Angola will have had video sessions alone, rather than face physical burnout.

Tinkler's charges have been less forthcoming than Etoile in disclosing what they have learnt.

"I think the Fifa break came at a good time," Bucs captain Happy Jele said. "Because we didn't know [Etoile], and the coaches have been doing a great job analysing them.

"I can't tell you our strength because it'll be written in the newspapers. We know about the opponent and what to do, but we will keep it to ourselves."

Jele said Bucs could not have had better preparation than two Soweto derbies against Kaizer Chiefs.

Tinkler has labelled Etoile as a more defensive team than the two Egyptian clubs Bucs have met in this Confed - Zamalek and Al Ahly.

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