Kudakwashe Mahachi fires Orlando Pirates Telkom Knockout warning

Kudakwashe Mahachi

ORLANDO Pirates are in for a tough Telkom Knockout battle in KwaMashu on Saturday, so says Golden Arrows winger Kudakwashe Mahachi.

READ: Larsen notes Mosimane’s warning

Arrows will host the Buccaneers at 15h30 at Princess Magogo Stadium in the last-16 of the tournament.

READ: Shongwe – What did I do wrong?

Abafana Bes’thende lost three of four meetings with Bucs in all competitions last term, going down in their TKO opener, in a league tie in Soweto and in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals.

The Durban-based outfit eventually prevailed 2-1 in the final league game of 2016/17 to earn a MTN8 ticket as Pirates finished outside of the top-eight for the first time in PSL history.

Mahachi insists Clinton Larsen’s side are determined to avenge their previous TKO exit at the hands of Pirates.

“The MTN8 [quarter-finals] we lost against Bidvest Wits on penalties, but we did well and now there’s a chance to play another cup against Orlando Pirates,” Mahachi tells KickOff.com.

“You know Orlando Pirates is a big team in South Africa, but we are not going to make life easy for them as we are a small team.

“It was painful to lose to them last season in the same competition, but we are eager this time to change things around.”

Arrows are the only unbeaten team in the Premiership this season as they sit a point behind leaders Baroka after nine matches, and a point ahead of the Sea Robbers.

Mahachi feels continuity has been key to their strong form.

“We are happy as a team. We kept our squad from last season and in the second half of last season we were doing well,” he says.

“So this is continuation of where we left off. I think we also have to give credit to the coaches and the management for keeping the core of the team.

“So, with that said, I think we are going to do better than last season. But we are not putting into our head that we’ve started well. We are pushing as a small team.” – kickoff.com