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Krol has 'keeper headache
Posted Wed, 10 Dec 2008

Orlando Pirates coach Ruud Krol has a goalkeeper headache on the eve of their Telkom Knockout final against Ajax Cape Town at Durban's Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday night.

Senzo Meyiwa, who has played in place of injured Moeneeb Josephs for the past six weeks, missed training on Wednesday due to flu. But Krol said it was a precaution and did not elaborate.

However, 'Bucs' officials did not want Meyiwa to infect other teammates and he was told to stay at home. The feeling is he will be fit to play on Saturday.

However, Meyiwa the former SA under-23 keeper, has not been convincing in deputising for since Josephs, the Bafana Bafana number two 'keeper, broke his nose in a league match against Platinum Stars last month.

Josephs had been training since last week and is fully fit. Krol as usual played his cards close to his chest said: "I will see tomorrow (Thursday) and make a decision on Meyiwa."

With Meyiwa laid low with flu, he could decide to throw in the more reliable Josephs into the final against his former club.

Krol was non-committal on most issues regarding the final, stressing that the players needed to improve from the 1-0 defeat the 'Urban Warriors inflicted on them in a league match played at the Johannesburg Stadium last Saturday night.

Said Krol: "This being a cup final will be different to last weekend's match. We had players out through suspension and other reasons. We need to go out there and go for it. We have players back from suspension to strengthen the side and we will be ready on the night."

The former Dutch captain said he was not losing any sleep worrying about Ajax and the fact they are sitting on top of the league at present. Said Krol: "That makes them favourites but favourites do not always win cup finals."

Midfield star Teko Modise is one of those players who is back to give Bucs the edge in midfield. Modise, who was rested last Saturday night because he was sitting on two bookings and a third in the league clash against Ajax would have meant being suspended for the final.

Said Modise: "I think the coach called it right. I always play hard and the chances were good that I would have picked up a third booking. I did not want to miss the final. I believe the break has made me hungrier. This is my second final. We lost to Mamelodi Sundowns in the Supa8 final, so I badly want a cup winners medal this time."

Modise said the players wanted to reward Krol by winning Pirates first cup in eight years. "It took a while for the players to understand what the coach wanted. Now we are starting to gel and believe we can beat Ajax in the final. But I respect Ajax as they are not top of the league for nothing.

"But despite last week's defeat we had gone six games unbeaten before that and we aim to rise to the occasion. We now play as a team and that will be important in the final."

Sapa