Kaze refuses to choose between MTN8 and league campaign as Sekhukhune face Pirates

Sekhukhune United head coach Cedric Kaze says his team will give equal importance to the MTN8 and their league campaign as they prepare for three demanding matches against Orlando Pirates in eight days.

Babina Noko travel to face the Buccaneers in the first leg of their MTN8 semi-final on Saturday. They will then return to league action on Tuesday before hosting Orlando Pirates in the second leg of the domestic cup tie the following Saturday.

The congested schedule means Sekhukhune United must manage their squad carefully, with competition priorities and player rotation likely to become important considerations. However, Kaze insists the club does not want to sacrifice progress in either tournament.

“You know if you ask me between the two, it’s like asking a parent to choose between his daughter and his boy, I love both of them, and we want to compete in both competitions, but as well, it’s a realistic question as well,” Kaze said.

The coach acknowledged that circumstances can sometimes force teams to focus on one target, particularly when squad depth is tested by a demanding fixture list.

“Sometimes you have targets coming from your side which means that sometimes the depth of squad doesn’t allow you to compete in both competition, which means it’s a fair question but we want to do as much as we can to give ourselves as much as we can in both competitions.”

The MTN8 semi-final gives Sekhukhune United a route towards silverware, while their league campaign remains a key priority. The three fixtures against Orlando Pirates will therefore place considerable demands on Kaze’s players and his ability to use the squad effectively.

Kaze says his side must be ready to perform irrespective of the venue or the conditions surrounding each match. He does not want his players to depend on a particular setting before producing their best football.

“As a coach I prepare my team to play everywhere, my team has to be able to perform in any situation and in any field that we are being taken on,” he said.

Their immediate task is the first meeting with Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 semi-final. The Soweto giants represent a stern challenge, but Kaze was unwilling to disclose the tactical plan he has prepared for Saturday’s match.

The Sekhukhune United coach has examined the methods used by other teams when facing Orlando Pirates. Although those approaches have not proved successful, Kaze hinted that his side could attempt to deal with the opponents in a different way.

“I wouldn’t give you my approach for Saturday, because probably I would be selling my secrets early on,” Kaze said.

“Let’s just say I have seen how other teams dealt with them, without success or let me just say I want to go a different way [in approaching Pirates].”

The first leg will begin a decisive period for Sekhukhune United, who must balance their ambition in the MTN8 with the need to maintain their league commitments before the semi-final is settled in the return fixture.