Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic says that Baroka have earned the right to be respected after reaching the Telkom Knockout final.

The Limpopo-based outfit has been the surprise package in the knockout competition after eliminating the likes of Golden Arrows, Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits en route to the final.

Meanwhile, Pirates had a relatively easy road to the final after beating Chippa United, AmaZulu and rivals Kaizer Chiefs.

Speaking to the media recently during the buildup to the eagerly-awaited clash scheduled for the Eastern Cape, Sredojevic spoke about his respect for Wedson Nyirenda’s team.

Sredojevic stated that he respects Wedson Nyirenda and his Baroka side for what they have accomplished in the competition thus far, while also implying that the Buccaneers are ‘guaranteed’ to beat Bakgaga and put an end to their four-tear trophy drought.

‘When someone talks about Baroka like a team that is beatable, I want to respect the opinion, but in the same moment all of us need to give an absolute respect to them, having in mind that when you do once, it’s (an) accident, but they have reached the finals beating two top teams, Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits, and when you have that in mind what is guaranteed to us that we can beat them,’ Sredojevic told the media.

Orlando Pirates are set to take on Baroka in the Telkom Knockout final at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, with kick-off set for 6pm.

Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix