CAFCL: Pyramids coach proud to reach semifinals, expects few changes for first leg
- Hossam Ahmed
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurcic, head coach of Egyptian club Pyramids FC, stressed the importance of the upcoming first leg against South African side Orlando Pirates in the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League.
He expressed his immense pride in seeing Pyramids reach this advanced stage of the competition, urging his players to enjoy the moment and give their absolute best to continue their journey toward continental glory.
Pirates will host Pyramids in the first leg of the semi-finals on Saturday at 16:00 GMT at Soccer City (FNB) stadium.
Speaking during the pre-match press conference, Jurcic acknowledged the difficulty of facing Orlando Pirates on their home turf and in front of their passionate supporters. He recognized that, compared to Pyramids, the Buccaneers have greater continental experience and have previously reached the final stages of the competition.
On the other hand, Pyramids are a relatively new club, established just six years ago, and reaching this point is already a major achievement that should make everyone proud. Jurcic stressed the need to keep pushing forward with full strength.
The coach revealed that he has watched many of Orlando’s matches and is well aware of the team's capabilities. He stated that his players are eager to deliver a strong performance and return from Johannesburg with a result that secures a place in the final.
Jurcic added that he won’t make many changes to the team’s formation or game plan based on the opponent, as Pyramids have their own unique playing style and will stick to it in pursuit of the final ticket.
The Croatian coach also emphasized his pride in seeing Pyramids among the top four teams in Africa. He noted the special nature of matches between Egyptian and South African clubs and described Pyramids’ presence at this prestigious stage as a wonderful achievement.
He affirmed the club’s ambition to continue developing, to always be among the continent’s elite, and to compete for all titles. Despite the clear difference in continental experience between Orlando Pirates and Pyramids, he is confident his team will put in a strong performance with no doubt.