The last quarter-final spot in this year’s competition is up for grabs tonight as the Citizens host the Buccaneers at Cape Town Stadium.
Pirates have won their last four games in succession, their last being their memorable 3-1 derby victory over Kaizer Chiefs, with their former striker and now opposition coach McCarthy admitting he’s wary of facing the Soweto giants at this stage.
“I’m not that excited, because with the form that Pirates are in, I would’ve wanted them maybe at a later stage in the competition,” he said. “I would have liked to have a proper ‘Ke Yona’ opponent, the likes of Steenberg United at Cape Town Stadium – that would have been such a blessing in the sky.
“Unfortunately we got Pirates, but the motivation factor for the players is there. We lost against them in the league last time, but did we really lose against them? We got a goal waved away, so there’s matters we need to settle, but it’ll be tough as hell because Pirates are coming of age and finding their rhythm, and it seems like Micho [Sredojevic] and Rhulani [Mokwena] are creating a good vibe and atmosphere in the Pirates camp, so they’ll be flying high.”
McCarthy pointed out that Gauteng-based teams often struggle in wet weather in the Cape, and says he’ll be doing the rain dance in the hope that the weather will help give his side the upper hand.
“Home advantage always counts, and hopefully the rain will come and bless us – we know the Joburg teams love playing when it rains in Cape Town,” he said with a sarcastic smile. “So I’ll be doing the rain dance, praying for rain. I know they leave the six studs at home when it rains!”
Showers are predicted in Cape Town this evening, with the match scheduled to kick off at 19h30.