Veteran Thapelo Xoki leads youngsters during Orlando Pirates training.

Image: BackpagePix

Orlando Pirates defender Thapelo Xoki insists the Buccaneers will not allow a demanding run of three matches in eight days to distract them from their immediate task of securing CAF Champions League progression.

Pirates host African Stars on Friday, holding a 1-0 advantage from the first leg, before turning their attention to a Carling Knockout Cup clash against Milford on Tuesday and next Saturday’s Soweto Derby.

With three important fixtures coming in quick succession, managing energy and maintaining focus will be crucial for the Buccaneers. However, Xoki says the players are concentrating solely on finishing the job against African Stars before thinking about what follows.

“For us, we put all of our energy and focus on the next game, it’s a big game for the club. We want to take the club to the group stages, we learnt from our lessons last season. We have a lead but we’re playing at home so it’s all about the energy tomorrow,” he said.

The first objective is to secure a place in the CAF Champions League group stages, with Pirates determined to avoid a repeat of the disappointment they experienced last season.

Despite their advantage, Xoki knows the job is not complete. Playing at home gives Pirates an opportunity to finish the tie in front of their supporters, but the defender stressed that the team must bring the right intensity to the encounter.

The technical team will also play an important role in guiding the squad through the busy period, with Pirates needing to manage their approach without losing sight of the immediate challenge.

“For us, it’s about the technical staff guiding us through the game and after that, we’ll focus on those games when they come but for now, it’s all about African Stars.”

Once the African Stars tie is settled, Pirates will have little time to recover before facing Milford in the Carling Knockout Cup, followed by one of the biggest fixtures on the domestic calendar against Kaizer Chiefs.

For now, however, Xoki’s message is straightforward: Pirates are aware of what lies ahead, but their focus remains firmly on African Stars and the opportunity to advance in Africa’s premier club competition.