Kaizer Chiefs defender Inacio Miguel is hopeful of ending Orlando Pirates' Soweto Derby dominance this weekend by winning the Nedbank Cup on Saturday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
It will be a massive clash for both teams in their bid to end the 2024/25 season on a high. Bucs won the MTN8 crown early in the campaign, while their old rivals Amakhosi have never won any competition in a decade.
Miguel is one of a few players who have won titles before, and believes he has what it takes to help the Glamour Boys win.
‘I will help teammates play without fear'
The Angola international insists Chiefs have been taking all games with the seriousness they deserve, despite the inconsistencies seen, especially in the Premier Soccer League where they have lost 12 out of the 26 matches played.
“One could say it is the biggest game because it is for a trophy, but I play every match like it’s a final. I give my maximum every game. For me, it’s just another game. I try to keep my emotions in check and pass the message to my teammates to remain calm. It brings a lot of responsibility, but I am happy to take that weight and leave my teammates free to play their best game,” he said as quoted by the club's website.
“I have been fortunate to play in cup finals before, so I have experienced that pressure and will try to be a calming influence to allow my teammates to play freely without fear.”
Chiefs are well prepared against ‘overconfident' Pirates
Last weekend Chiefs lost 2-1 against Bucs, but Miguel insists that doesn't matter, “We lost the game, but there are things we can learn from it. We saw where we came up short and won’t make the same mistakes again. It hurts, of course, but at least have an opportunity to rectify the situation.
“Last weekend’s result might make Pirates a little bit over-confident, and we are well prepared, mentally and physically, to take advantage of any complacency in their team. We go into the game knowing there is no second chance in a final, and we want to show everyone, including ourselves, that we can do it.
“All the players are all too aware that the supporters have been desperate to win a trophy for a long time, but we live in the present and can’t dwell on what the Club hasn’t done in the past 10 years. We have a final to play with a trophy on the line. We have a mission to fulfil, and we are totally focused on what is in our hands, what we can do. Right now, that is to bring the cup home, and we are working hard to make it happen,” he concluded.
