Province, City give Pirates support ahead of big match

25 November 2015

 

Orlando Pirates were on Tuesday November 24 showered with words of encouragement on the eve of their departure to Tunisia, where they and Etoile du Sahel will battle it out for African football’s ultimate bragging rights in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup final in Sousse on Sunday.

 

Hundreds of well-wishers turned up at Rand Stadium to watch the club’s last training session on home soil to pep them up ahead of what appears to be a Herculean task in Tunisia.

 

The scorching Johannesburg sun did not seem to affect the players’ determination, will and hunger for success as they took part in the practice session as if they were playing in a cup final – under the glare of local news photographers.

 

Also watching from the touchline was Gauteng Chief Director of Sports and Recreation, Ivor Hoff, who wished the Buccaneers all the luck in the second leg of the final. Though mindful of the monumental task Pirates are facing – having played to a 1-all draw against Etoile du Sahel at Orlando Stadium on Saturday – Hoff was hopeful they would be crowned winners come Sunday.

He said though Pirates were at “a slight disadvantage” going into the match, “you have the pedigree”. He said the City of Johannesburg, his department and the provincial government were fully behind the team.

 

“Our role is to be an enabler, as was shown with how we assisted with preparations and some of the logistics at Orlando Stadium at the weekend. As you leave the country, we want to wish you well.

 

“You represent yourselves, Safa (the South African Football Association), your team, your city region and your country. We wish you well,” he said.

Hoff added that there were seven professional soccer teams in Gauteng that all received support from the provincial government.