Winning the Telkom Knockout Cup came as no surprise, Baroka coach Wedson Nyirenda said.
Baroka beat Soweto giants and tournament favourites Orlando Pirates 3-2 on penalties to be crowned champions, at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
After only five months in the job the Zambian coach has clearly improved on Bakgaga’s standards in the PSL
After only five months in the job, the Zambian coach has clearly improved on Bakgaga’s standards in the PSL.
Besides their promotion to the topflight a few years ago‚ this no doubt ranks as their biggest achievement since their formation in 2007.
But Nyirenda said he was not surprised, pointing to his untiring work ethic.
“I have been a man of honours wherever I go. I create a difference for the good, for the people I am working for.
“This did not come as a surprise because those who have been with me since I arrived, including the chairman, I told them we are winning the Telkom Cup,” he said.
“In the league we are going to move to a position we have never been in before because we need to grow in football.
“I have been preaching about winning this cup and thank God it has come to pass.”
The match ended in 2-2 after extra-time and spot kicks were needed to determine who would walk away with the R4m prize money.
Thembinkosi Lorch’s missed penalty silenced the buzzing crowd of almost 40,000 people who were mostly Pirates supporters, and saw Baroka make history by becoming the first Limpopo side to win a domestic topflight cup competition.
Nyirenda said it was the most explosive cup final he had ever seen. “Pirates were on top of us, they were all over us. They have good, mature players, who know what to do with the ball.
“They can manage the game at any time and they can open up to score. But we were so resilient in this game, like we were in the past three games in this tournament. We showed maturity is starting to grow in our team.”
Baroka will have little time to celebrate as they are back in action on Tuesday in an Absa Premiership match against Mamelodi Sundowns, who they have already beaten 2-0 this season.
Nyirenda said his players must immediately forget about winning the Telkom Cup, because they need to improve their log position. “We cannot be the Telkom champions and then start fighting relegation. We have to move on from there.
“Tuesday will be the game of our life. We need to get the three points. If we can’t, the least will be to get one point.
“We are playing another magnificent team at their home, it’s not going to be easy.
“They have seen us win this Telkom and they are just going to throw everything [at us].
“I know [Sundowns coach] Pitso [Mosimane], [he is] a great tactician and he knows he cannot underrate this team.
“So, he is coming full force at us,” Nyirenda said.