Birds determined to win trophies

DOBSONVILLE, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 22, Swallows celebrate during the Absa Premiership match between Moroka Swallows and Ajax Cape Town at Volkswagen Dobsonville Stadium on August 22, 2012 in Dobsonville, South Africa Photo by Lee Warren / Gallo Images

DOBSONVILLE, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 22, Swallows celebrate during the Absa Premiership match between Moroka Swallows and Ajax Cape Town at Volkswagen Dobsonville Stadium on August 22, 2012 in Dobsonville, South Africa Photo by Lee Warren / Gallo Images

Published Aug 24, 2012

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Johannesburg – After narrowly missing out on league honours last season, Moroka Swallows still have the desire to win trophies as they head into their MTN8 second-leg semi-final against Mamelodi Sundowns in Dobsonville on Sunday.

The teams drew the first leg 3-3 in Atteridgeville last week, handing the advantage to the Birds through the away goals rule.

“I think it will be good for our side to go through to the final because we haven't really had any silverware in the past four years,” said captain Lefa Tsutsulupa.

The last trophy they won was the Nedbank Cup in 2009.

“It will mean a lot to us as players, management and the supporters,” Tsutsulupa said.

“I think everybody has been backing the club for so long, it's high time we as players put a smile on their faces.

“When it comes to the supporters, they must come in their numbers on Sunday because I believe this game will be worth their money.”

Despite Swallows holding the advantage on away goals, Tsutsulupa said the game in Soweto would provide a fresh start with the better side on the day the likeliest to progress to the final.

“Honestly, the underdog tag doesn't really work. We're talking about eight million (rand) here,” he said.

“It's fifty-fifty. We scored three away (goals) and they can still score three in Dobsonville.

“For us it's about being organised, being aggressive, offensive and trying and creating as many chances as we can and allowing our strikers the possibility to go one-on-one with the goalkeepers to give them a sniff at goal.”

Tsutsulupa believed the experience of in-form striker Siyabonga Nomvethe, who scored a brace in a league game last week, may be the deciding factor in the match-up.

“The funny thing with Nomvethe is, every time he smiles he scores,” he said.

“I told him at half-time to start smiling and then he scored.

“Nomvethe is experienced. He knows which runs to make at certain points in the match, so it works for him, because he doesn't waste energy.

“He just goes to the right places at the right time. I believe he still has a lot f goals to score, provided that we give him the opportunity.”

In the other semi-final, Orlando Pirates host SuperSport United at Orlando Stadium on Sunday after the first leg ended in a goalless draw. – Sapa

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