Ajax Cape Town set for another Orlando Pirates showdown in the Nedbank Cup Last 32

"You are as good as your last game," says Ajax Cape Town head coach Muhsin Ertugral

Muhsin Ertugral 

Ajax Cape Town are currently in preparation to go head to head against Orlando Pirates, only this time around it will be in a cup game - the Nedbank Cup Last 32 round. 

The Urban Warriors recently faced the Buccaneers where they came out victorious in a 3-0 win at Cape Town stadium.

Ertugral told the media at a press conference on Tuesday, February 6 that he is expecting a difficult game and knows that a cup game is a completely different setup. 

 "You are always good as your last game. It's a completely different game, its a cup game and they are different. It won't be easy for us and I know how difficult it is to play at Orlando stadium and for a team that wants to prove a point.

The head coach believes that a team is always as good as their last game. He also expressed his excitement to play at Orlando stadium again although he will be facing his employers; and that it will be a game that will be equally enjoyed by the footballs fans alike. 

"I think its a very interesting game to watch. Cant wait for the kick off there. It will be packed with the fans and cant to play football on the pitch that attracts fans to come and watch SA football," he said. 

"I think it's a psychological game, that's what they need to understand that Micho is a very good coach and turned the team into the team into a level that they are playing great football.

"We know where their strengths lie. There are no excuses, we want to go in there and get over it and move to the next round.

"We know how difficult its going to be and we are prepared for that. This is a mental situation that will come on us but I think they will be a little more cautious about us this time around.

Muhsin told the media that having great striker options is a great headache to have although the recent recruit, Yannick Zakri is injured together with Musa Lebusa who picked up a muscle tear in their last match. 

He also sang Fagrie Lakay praises but added that he has a few minor issues to deal with to perfect his game and not tackle situations at once. 

Sedwyn George looks to be in the coach's good books according to the way he has performed in during training but will still need to impress more to get a possible start. 

"It's not a headache, its a nice headache to have actually but the problem is that Yannick (Zakri) is injured. He picked up an unnecessary injury. It will take another two to three weeks. Musa (Lebusa) is injured as well, he has a tear on his back muscle.

Fagri (Lakay) is a talent I remember from when he was 17 and in those years, I discovered he was an upcoming player - very good in going forward but still not understanding about playing to the open hand and tries to tackle three situations at once.

"Pirates is good and we need to understand that they will close their spaces and we need to know how we are going to escape that.

"I think Tendai (Ndoro) is a big player that runs in all angles that you expect him to and will take on players like Yannick. He is a different player; a boxed player.

"Sedwyn (George) looked extraordinary for me this week , he is hungry to play but there are some small details we need to look at if we are going to play two strikers. 

"We are versatile, and I am very happy about that - it will depend on the system that we are playing," Muhsin said.

Ajax Cape Town will travel to Orlando stadium to meet the hosts, Orlando Pirates on Saturday, February 10. Kick off is set for 20:15.