ORLANDO Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi insists Bucs are still well on track to deliver on their promise of sweeping the boards in the Premier Soccer League this season.
Lekgwathi was speaking to Sowetan after Pirates qualified for their fifth successive final after beating Lamontville Golden Arrows 3-1 in the Telkom Knockout semifinal at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night.
"We did very well and it was a well deserved victory, this is the only title we did not win last season but it's coming to Parktown this season," said Lekgwathi.
"We are ready for whoever will qualify for the final between BidVest Wits and Santos," said Lekgwathi, adding they need to transfer their cup success to league.
"We have been a bit inconsistent in the league, which is not good at all. I still maintain we have a good chance of winning the league again, but we need to be consistent."
Pirates coach Jairo Leal said: "We are not doing well in the league. I am a Brazilian and in Brazil we know how to handle pressure.
"Football is about pressure and I know how to handle it," he said. "When I signed for Pirates I knew that there would be a lot of pressure.
"Pirates is a good team and will bounce back from the league setbacks. We're in the final and that shows that we are a good team."
Arrows finished the match with 10 men after Dillon Sheppard was sent off for a second bookable offence for a foul in the box on Pirates' skipper, Lekgwathi in the 80th minute.
Oupa "Ace" Manyisa converted the spotkick from Siyabonga Sangweni and Thulasizwe Mbuyane.
And Arrows coach Muhsin Ertugral was unhappy: "I am not disappointed but angry. It sometimes makes me angry when players make such mistakes in a crucial match like this one. It's unacceptable and it was unnecessary for us to lose the game because we kept Pirates under pressure.
"I blame myself for bringing in Collins Mbesuma as (Thamsanqa) Gabuza was doing well for us. He was keeping Pirates defence busy."
Lekgwathi has a dream
ORLANDO Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi insists Bucs are still well on track to deliver on their promise of sweeping the boards in the Premier Soccer League this season.
Lekgwathi was speaking to Sowetan after Pirates qualified for their fifth successive final after beating Lamontville Golden Arrows 3-1 in the Telkom Knockout semifinal at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night.
"We did very well and it was a well deserved victory, this is the only title we did not win last season but it's coming to Parktown this season," said Lekgwathi.
"We are ready for whoever will qualify for the final between BidVest Wits and Santos," said Lekgwathi, adding they need to transfer their cup success to league.
"We have been a bit inconsistent in the league, which is not good at all. I still maintain we have a good chance of winning the league again, but we need to be consistent."
Pirates coach Jairo Leal said: "We are not doing well in the league. I am a Brazilian and in Brazil we know how to handle pressure.
"Football is about pressure and I know how to handle it," he said. "When I signed for Pirates I knew that there would be a lot of pressure.
"Pirates is a good team and will bounce back from the league setbacks. We're in the final and that shows that we are a good team."
Arrows finished the match with 10 men after Dillon Sheppard was sent off for a second bookable offence for a foul in the box on Pirates' skipper, Lekgwathi in the 80th minute.
Oupa "Ace" Manyisa converted the spotkick from Siyabonga Sangweni and Thulasizwe Mbuyane.
And Arrows coach Muhsin Ertugral was unhappy: "I am not disappointed but angry. It sometimes makes me angry when players make such mistakes in a crucial match like this one. It's unacceptable and it was unnecessary for us to lose the game because we kept Pirates under pressure.
"I blame myself for bringing in Collins Mbesuma as (Thamsanqa) Gabuza was doing well for us. He was keeping Pirates defence busy."