Orlando Pirates are counting on the expertise of seasoned players like Kermit Erasmus as they gear up for the Nedbank Cup final on Saturday.

Orlando Pirates are counting on the expertise of seasoned players like Kermit Erasmus as they gear up for the Nedbank Cup final against Sekhukhune United at Loftus Stadium on Saturday evening.
The striker humbly acknowledges his knack for delivering in high-stakes matches.
Erasmus is no stranger to Nedbank Cup heroics. During his initial stint with Pirates, the pint-sized attacker scored a brace in the final of the 2014 Nedbank Cup against BidVest Wits.
Having made a blockbuster return to the Buccaneers as a last-minute signing at the beginning of the season, Erasmus has already made a significant impact with crucial goals.
He found the back of the net in the MTN8 quarter-final clash against Mamelodi Sundowns — a tournament eventually won by Pirates. In the semi-final of the Nedbank Cup, he notched the opening goal, setting the stage for Sandile Mthethwa's winning header that eliminated rivals Kaizer Chiefs.
As Pirates prepare to face Sekhukhune in the final, Erasmus recognizes the value of his experience.
"It's something I accept and embrace to the best of my ability," said Erasmus in an interview with the club's media. "Whenever I wear the jersey, I give it my all. I consider myself fortunate to excel in significant matches, and I hope to replicate that on Saturday."
"A cup final is always a fantastic occasion to be part of, and I'm eternally grateful for the opportunity to contribute. It's about giving my utmost for the team."
"We approach the game with respect for our opponents and take nothing for granted. We'll give it our all and hopefully bring the trophy home with our best efforts."

Kermit Erasmus: A key player as Orlando Pirates eye Nedbank Cup glory

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wants his charges to prove they have become one of the Premier League's real title challengers.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wants his charges to prove they have become one of the Premier League's real title challengers.
The Gunners ended a campaign of obvious progress with a 5-0 thrashing of Wolves on the final day, which meant they finished only five points behind champions Manchester City.
Arsenal had been top of the Premier League for 248 days before a run of two wins in eight fixtures during the closing weeks of the season saw their title quest end on the penultimate weekend.
Finishing as runners-up behind City means Champions League football will return to the Emirates for the first time since 2017 and, while Arteta was delighted to achieve their initial goal this season, he is well aware of the work required to kick on this summer.
"We wanted to bring the club back to the Champions League, that was the main target," he said.
"That was obviously a big demand in the summer before we did certain things and before we managed to keep some of our players.
"Then the journey started and day by day, you start to have a feeling that the team is moving in the right direction and the energy and spirit is really good. Then you start to generate some belief.
"We didn't expect to finish where we are. I think it's the third best record in the club, with the history of the club, the most wins ever.
"It's a lot but it's still not enough to win it. We understand where the level is. If we want to be the real deal, we can't be happy with what we have, and we have to be next season much better.
"I think we have some great foundations, that is true but in sport you have to prove it again.
"You have to be back in the first day of pre-season and look at each other and I don't want to see any complacency or, ‘we've done really well and its OK'.
"We are going to have to be much better. It will be a challenging season but a season with plenty of opportunities and one of those opportunities is to be consistent, to do it again and be better. This is what we have to demand from each other."
Gabriel Jesus was on target against Wolves with Bukayo Saka, Jakub Kiwior and Granit Xhaka also scoring, the latter netting twice in what is expected to be his final appearance for Arsenal.
Jesus' second-half header ensured he finished his debut campaign for the Gunners with 11 goals and he is excited about the direction the club are heading.
He told the official club website: "It was good. Unfortunately, we didn't win a trophy which was our target, but I think we had a good season, very good.
"We are building a good atmosphere from inside and outside, the fans coming with us always supporting, pushing us.
"I am so excited (for next season). I was a little bit unlucky about my injury, I missed a big part of the season but my mentality has always been my fitness and then to help my team, so next my main target is to be fit all season and help my team."
There remains a large degree of uncertainty for Wolves ahead of next season with boss Julen Lopetegui revealing Joao Moutinho, Adama Traore and Diego Costa could leave on free transfers due to the club's financial problems.
"This is a problem. You have players that you want to re-sign but you can't because it is like a new signing in the financial terms," the Spaniard explained.
"I am not a financial adviser, I am a coach. We will see.
"I know the sporting directors, they have to work very, very hard these five months and they have different targets for the squad but to execute any target, you need to know how much money you have. If not, it is impossible."

Mikel Arteta: Arsenal must use this season as a launch pad

USM Alger beat Tanzanian club Young Africans (Yanga) 2-1 in the first leg of the Confederation Cup final at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

USM Alger beat Tanzanian club Young Africans (Yanga) 2-1 in the first leg of the Confederation Cup final at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
The victory gave the Algerian side an advantage heading into the return leg at home.
Yanga began the match energetically with strong support from their fans, but USM Alger gradually took control.
In the 32nd minute, Alger broke the deadlock with a superb header from Mahious.
Despite falling behind, Yanga remained determined and pushed forward in search of an equaliser. However, they couldn't convert their clear chances as Alger's defense held firm.
The first half ended with Alger leading 1-0. In the second half, Yanga started with renewed motivation but struggled to break through Alger's defense.
Alger, on the other hand, created scoring opportunities but failed to capitalise.
In the 82nd minute, Yanga managed to level the score through Fiston Mayele, giving hope to their fans.
However, just a minute later, Alger regained the lead, dampening Yanga's spirits. Alger successfully held on to their advantage, executing their game plan effectively.

Confederation Cup final: USM Alger take advantage into second leg 

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp does not feel he needs a break from Premier League management after a difficult season.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp does not feel he needs a break from Premier League management after a difficult season.
The Reds missed out on Champions League qualification after finishing outside the top four for the first time in a full season under the German.
Sunday's thrilling 4-4 draw at relegated Southampton stretched Liverpool's unbeaten top-flight run to 11 games but the late resurgence was not enough to make up for earlier poor results.
Klopp, the division's longest-serving manager, maintains he is "full of energy" and ready to revive the club's fortunes going into the summer.
Asked if he needs time off, the Reds boss replied: "No, no, no, not at all. Honestly, I'm completely fine.
"If you'd asked me 11 games ago, 'do you want to have a break?', I would have thought about it, to be honest.
"But I'm absolutely fine, full of energy.
"I have a break - I don't have training and these kind of things. But a really busy period hopefully starts now in a different area of the game. I'm more than happy to do that.
"I will find time to reenergise and then we start again in July."
Liverpool's fifth-placed finish was their lowest since they finished eighth in 2015-16 - the season during which Klopp replaced Brendan Rodgers at Anfield.
The Reds looked destined to sign off this term in style following early strikes from Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino at St Mary's.
But quick-fire second-half finishes from substitute Cody Gakpo and Jota were required to avoid a major shock after Kamaldeen Sulemana's double and goals from James Ward-Prowse and Adam Armstrong turned a chaotic contest in Southampton's favour.
Klopp believes his club has stuck together during some difficult moments and is determined that they regain a fear factor for rival sides.
"There is not a lot to learn (from the season) but a lot of clubs when the expectations are as high as ours when things don't go well pretty quickly you start blaming each other," he said. "That didn't happen here.
"The better you behave in a crisis, the better you get out of it - and I really thought that was the case for us.
"We're really, really not happy about it and for a club like us it's massive not to qualify for the Champions League.
"If we improve, we are all of a sudden again a team nobody wants to play against and that's what we have to become again.
"There were a lot of games in the season where I think teams were happy to face us. That's actually the worst thing that can happen to you and I hated these moments. But that's over and now let's start again."
Southampton are preparing for life in the Sky Bet Championship following an exhilarating end to a dismal season.
Saints manager Ruben Selles, who will leave the club and is likely be replaced by Swansea boss Russell Martin, conducted a performance review ahead of his departure.
"We discussed the points we can do better, the points we need to hold," said the Spaniard.
"We needed to end in a professional way and that's not a discussion because it's not about us as a technical staff, it's about Southampton and the information we can pass to the future people working here is key in not repeating the same mistakes.
"If they find themselves in the same situations that we did, at least they have this footage and experience of what we did.
"We did our review as a technical staff together. We got some conclusions for us and somebody will present it in the proper place to present it.
"It's not for us to decide for the future but it is for us to say what we think can be different next season."

Jurgen Klopp: I'm fine to keep pushing after Liverpool's disappointing campaign

Erik ten Hag told the raucous Old Trafford faithful that Manchester United have a 'really good chance' of winning the FA Cup against Manchester City.

Erik ten Hag told the raucous Old Trafford faithful that Manchester United have a "really good chance" of winning the FA Cup and ending Manchester City's treble charge.
Having wrapped up Champions League qualification by beating Chelsea on Thursday, the Red Devils sealed third spot in the Premier League on the final day of the campaign.
United bounced back from Kenny Tete's early header as David De Gea saved Aleksandar Mitrovic's penalty before Jadon Sancho and Bruno Fernandes sealed a 2-1 comeback win against Fulham.
The players were given a fantastic reception at full-time and, after presenting De Gea with the Golden Glove trophy, boss Ten Hag made an impassioned speech to fans.
"First of all, I want to say thank you to our players," he told the stadium. "I think they played a brilliant season.
"They are also supported by the staff. I want to say thank you to the staff.
"Secondly, I want to thank you (the fans) all. We fought really strong during the season at Old Trafford and away.
"I want to thank you for the season and your contribution backing us, for the support – it was great, so thank you.
"But there is still one game to go and I am sure that these players will give everything to beat Manchester City next week.
"If you have our back, I'm sure we have a really good chance to take the cup back to Old Trafford."
Those comments were met by a huge roar that will increase further still if Ten Hag's men can beat City at Wembley next Saturday and add the FA Cup to February's Carabao Cup success.
"You have always a chance in football," Ten Hag said in the post-match press conference.
"The history shows we beat them in January but I think Man United in the last couple of years beat City many times.
"So, these players know when they play at their levels that they can compete.
"It's obvious we play against probably – at this moment – the best team, but still there is a chance and we have to go for the chance and we have to give everything.
"We can't be after the game finding excuses for ourselves. I'm sure we will play a good game on Saturday."
Ten Hag knows United have to step up after making a sloppy start against Fulham, saying De Gea's penalty save woke them up.
The United boss again reiterated that he expected the long-serving Spain goalkeeper to extend his contract beyond the end of the season, before seemingly taking a dig at the owners' backing.
Fans called for the Glazers to leave throughout – as they always do – and Ten Hag said he did not get investment like their top-four rivals in January.
The United boss, who was only able to make loan moves for Jack Butland, Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer, said: "The club knows if you want to play top four, compete for trophies in this tough league, then you have to invest.
"Otherwise you don't have a chance because other clubs will do.
"We have seen it in the winter that all the clubs around us made huge investments. We didn't and still we made it, so I'm really happy and proud of my team."
As for Fulham, they displayed heart at Old Trafford at the end of an impressive season that saw them finish 10th after promotion from the Championship.
Head coach Marco Silva said: "We had very good moments during the game.
"Unfortunately for us, not really consistent during all the match but the way we started we were beginning to control the game.
"We were leading the score and I think it was well deserved because we showed the composure and quality to play, to control most of the moments.
"Of course we had the chance to make it 2-0 and give us even more confidence and create a much-more difficult score for them.
"De Gea saved and of course it was a moment that boosted them. You could feel is straight away in the stadium.
"These are the moments we have to show our maturity, to show more consistency."