Pirates chase treble

Leopards today in the South African FA Cup soccer final and complete a “treble”.
The match kicks-off at 3pm.
Krol twice suffered the greatest football heartache of them all, finishing on the losing Netherlands side in the World Cup finals of 1974 and 1978 against hosts West Germany and Argentina respectively.
Former African champions Pirates against second-tier Leopards in eastern city Nelspruit is a classic David versus Goliath contest as the Soweto club seek more silverware after collecting the league title and Top 8 Cup.
“Leopards are going to be difficult opponents because they have nothing to lose,” cautions Krol, whose three-year contract expires after the game with no word whether it will be renewed.
“I have warned my players that every club wants to beat the champions and Leopards will be exceptionally motivated,” added the former defender capped 83 times before retiring from international football 28 years ago.
Krol, who coached in Belgium, Switzerland, Egypt and France before joining the Buccaneers in 2008, praised his team which also reached the League Cup final this season only to be thumped 3-0 by arch foes Kaizer Chiefs.
“Reaching all three cup finals and winning the championship . . . I believe the players have done a fantastic job and were the most consistent team in South Africa.”
Pirates succeeded despite lengthy injury absences of two vital cogs – World Cup goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs and wide midfielder Daine Klate – with captain and centre-back Lucky Lekgwathi and midfielder Tlou Segolela key players. Lekgwathi completed 300 appearances for the Buccaneers last week and is a wise head among young team-mates while Segolela is the “Usain Bolt” of South African football with his electrifying speed responsible for many goals.
Star-less Leopards hail from Thohoyandou, a town in the north east of the country, and faced only one Premiership opponent in a four-match march to the final which offers R6 million to the winners.
Former Zimbabwe centreback, captain and coach Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa guides the team and has no illusions about the task awaiting his players before a sell-out 43 000 crowd at Mbombela Stadium, a 2010 World Cup venue.
“Defeating Pirates will be like trying to move a mountain. However, we watch them on TV every week and know a lot more about them than they do about us. I hope my players will not be intimidated by the occasion,” he said.
ROAD TO FINAL
Pirates: Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0, United FC 3-1, Free State Stars 1-0, Mpumalanga Black Aces 1-0
Leopards: Thanda Royal Zulu 2-1, Liverpool 3-1, Vasco da Gama 3-2 aet, Baroka 2-2 aet 3/1 penalties
Scorers
Pirates: 2 – Tlou Segolela, 1 – Happy Jele, Oupa Manyisa, Dikgang Mabalane, Lungisani Ndlela (United) own goal
Leopards: 2 – Dingaan Masanabo, Rodney Ramagalela, 1 – David Masugu, Grant Lungu, Nkosiyabo Xabane, Aidan Jenniker and Mokete Tsotetsi (Vasco) own goal each, Edward Malinga (Thanda) own goal
Captains
Pirates: centre-back Lucky Lekgwathi
Leopards: midfielder Robert Ng’ambi (Malawi)
Coaches
Pirates: Ruud Krol (Netherlands)
Leopards: Sunday Chidzambwa (Zimbabwe)
Previous meetings
Pirates 12 wins, Leopards one win, four draws
Nicknames
Pirates: Buccaneers and Sea Robbers
Leopards: Lidoda Duvha (The day will come)
Prize money
Winners: R6 million
Runners-up: R2,5 million
Cup winners
12 – Kaizer Chiefs
6 – Pirates
5 – Moroka Swallows
3 – Mamelodi Sundowns
2 – Santos, SuperSport Utd, Wits University
1 – Ajax Cape Town, Bloemfontein Celtic, Cape Town Spurs, Jomo Cosmos, Witbank Black Aces, Vaal Professionals. – AFP.