KUSAZOBA umqansa kwi-Orlando Pirates ukugudluza iMamelodi Sundowns ekubeni umakhonya kwiligi enkulu yaseNingizimu Afrika kwazise emidlalweni esiyigijime kusukela kubuywe ekhefini, ikhombisa izimpawu zensila endala esaqaqele kuleli qembu.
Lona wumbono kaLucky “Phinda Mzala” Lekgwathi owayewukaputeni wePirates ngesizini ka-2011/2012 okuyisizini eyagcina ngayo ukudla isicoco seligi.
ULekgwathi utshele Isolezwe ukuthi ubeyiqaphe ngelokhozi iPirates kusukela iqale imidlalo yokuzicijela ukuqala kwesizini entsha emidlalweni ebiseSpain, eyeMTN 8 kuze kufike kwiCaf Champions League.
Lo kaputeni wakudala weBucs uthe kukhona okumchazile emidlalweni esidlalwe yiqembu lakhe, ukuvezile nokho ukuthi uqaphele insila endala yokuhluleka ukugcina umgqigqo.
“Sonke esixhumene nePirates sifisa ukuqeda ukuchanasa kweSundowns kwiligi enkulu kodwa akufanele sizikhohlise ngokuthi kule sizini singase sibasuse ompetha eqhulwini,” kusho yena.
“Imidlalo esengiyibukile isikucacisile ukuthi iPirates izokhula njengeqembu kodwa ayikazukufika emgqigqweni weSundowns ngoba kusekhona lapho isashoda khona.
“Kunemidlalo lapho belisezingeni eliphezulu iqembu kweyaseSpain kodwa kweminye beliphansi.
“KwiMTN8 iPirates ibivutha inqoba kwiSuperSport United kodwa ekuhambeni koweCaf kuphinde kwavela ukuthi insila yokuhluleka ukubamba umgqigqo isazoqhubeka nakule sizini,” kusho uLekgwathi.
IPirates iyinqobe ngo 3-1 iSuperSport koweMTN8, yabambana ngo 0-0 neDesciples FC yaseMadagascar ekuhambeni koweChampions League.
“Iqembu alishodi ngokwabadlali kanti nomqeqeshi ukahle kodwa kunendlela yeSundowns yokudlala ekwenza ubone ukuthi noma ngabe izinto ziyayiphika kodwa igcina iphumelele.
“Leyo ndlela yokudlala iyakhiwa. Ngiyavuma uJose (Riveiro) usendleleni ebheke ekutheni iPirates ifike lapho kodwa ngeke kube yile sizini ezoqala ngokubona kwami.
“Angifuni ukubukeka njengomuntu ongenalo ithemba kepha esingaqala ngakho ukunciphisa igebe iSundowns esihlule ngalo ngokwamaphuzu ngesizini edlule,” kuqhuba uLekgwathi.
Ngesizini edlule iSundowns ivule igebe lamaphuzu awu-23 kwiligi emaqenjini abeyilandela ngemuva.
Ngokusho kwalo kaputeni oqoqe inqwaba yezinkomishi neBucs, enye inkinga ukuthi iSundowns ayihluke ngalutho kulokhu ebiyikhona eminyakeni edlule.
“Kunomuzwa wokuthi iSundowns iphazamisekile njengoba kunezinguquko ezenzekile kuyona kodwa yingane encane engabambelela kulokho, ukuthi kuhambe uRhulani (Mokwena).
“Abadlali beSundowns okuyibona abanale ndlela yokunqoba futhi noManqoba (Mngqithi) ubelokhu ekhona kuyona yonke le minyaka edlule icanasa.
“Sinejoka lokunciphisa igebe kuqala ngakho-ke kusemqoka ukuhlala ethembeni lokuthi iPirates izokhula njengoba ibilokhu yenza kumasizini adlule,” kuphetha uLekgwathi.
NgoLwesiblanu iBucs izokwamukela iDisciples kowomlenze wesibili kowesigaba sokuqala sokuhlungela eyamaqoqo yeChampions League.