DURBAN – Lamontville Golden Arrows are plotting the downfall of an Orlando Pirates side that is brimming with confidence heading into their encounter at Orlando Stadium tonight (7.30pm).
The two sides will battle it out for the maximum points in an Absa Premiership tussle. Abafana Bes’thende, who are going through testing times, need the points, while Pirates are on the rise.
Coach at Arrows, Clinton Larsen, is banking on the decent form that his troops have enjoyed away from home, plus the fact that they are playing against a big team.
“We want to use whatever weaknesses we can get to expose them. We are well aware that we are facing a very strong Orlando Pirates side and that they have good players in every department. They have the likes of Xola Mlambo, Thembinkosi Lorch, Ben Motshwari and Innocent Maela who are all on form but we are not going there to get the draw. We never go out there to play for draws.
“We always want to score first. We have showed that we can get results away from home and we are hoping for one. We want to get three points but if we get the draw we will take it,” Larsen explained.
The only victory for Abafana Bes’thende this season came away from home. They humbled Maritzburg United 2-0 in the KwaZulu-Natal derby at Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg in an opening league fixture.
Arrows coach Clinton Larsen expects his team to score first against Orlando Pirates tonight. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Arrows also shared the spoils with Cape Town City in Cape Town.
Highlands Park are the only team that has collected the maximum points at home against the Durban side.
“Players are always self-motivated whenever they are coming up against Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns. They always looking forward to such matches.
“We don’t want to see that as coaches. We want to see the same hunger against Polokwane City and Chippa United. My boys are motivated and looking forward to the match,” he added.
Eight points separate the two sides on the log-standing. Pirates have collected 14 points from eight league outings while Arrows are on six points after seven matches.
The Buccanneers are on a four-match unbeaten streak while Arrows are winless in their past six league matches.
“We will give our best. As I always say, we always have to be at our level best if we want to win against top teams. My team is moving in the right direction. Yes, we haven’t produced positive results in the past few matches but we are playing good football.
“The only thing that we need to do is to convert the chances that we always create in our matches,” Larsen concluded.
Abafana Bes’thende will welcome back defender Siyanda Zwane from an injury heading into the match in Orlando tonight.