Orlando Pirates coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojević has dismissed the struggles of Johannesburg-based teams when travelling down to Cape Town.

Orlando Pirates travel to Cape Town to take on Cape Town City in their Nedbank Cup round-of-16 tie on Wednesday evening. When asked about his side’s previous struggles in the Mother City during the pre-match press conference, Micho was quick to play down any past difficulties that his team may have faced.

‘We are hungry and looking forward to the game. We know that there is that thinking that Johannesburg teams are struggling in Cape Town. It is true that the weather is different, but I would not go that direction and I would rather focus on the football,’ said the Serbian.

‘We [would] be happy and proud if we could have the same performance like we had against Ajax Cape Town, but of course with a better conversion ratio and much tighter at the back. It is the intention to show that what has happened [the game against Ajax] was just a bad day in the office.

‘I would not go the direction that it [playing in Cape Town] will influence the game. Especially coming from above sea level to sea level where there is more oxygen and you are physiologically at an advantage if you are not more than 48 hours where acclimatisation starts. I would go the direction of football. We will clash against a good team and we are ready. We know that this is the strongest match of this round of the Nedbank Cup and we are focused and concentrated on the match on Wednesday.’

The Pirates coach also reserved some special praise for their upcoming opponents, calling Benni McCarthy’s side, ‘a very well-coached team with top individuals’.

Cape Town City vs Orlando Pirates will take place on Wednesday, 14 March at 19:30 at the Cape Town Stadium.