Safa urges SA to rally behind Pirates

"This is the defining moment not just for Orlando Pirates, but for our football in general," Safa president Danny Jordaan said in a statement on Tuesday.

"It has not been an easy journey for them but they walked the talk and now they are standing at the gates of glory. And I believe this is where we come in as fellow South Africans."

Jordaan said South Africans needed to come out in numbers and make sure when the players trotted out onto the field, they knew the whole country was behind them by seeing a packed Orlando Stadium.

"I believe they will do the business. A good result in the first leg will surely go a long way in giving them more confidence to tackle the return fixture. They have done us proud so far, so let us put our club differences aside and show our support."

Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund said fans should make life unbearable for Al-Ahly when they play in Soweto as they would not make it easy for Pirates when they play in Cairo.

"Pirates are not doing this for themselves but for the country," Igesund said. "Remember after their famous victory in 1995 our football blossomed and we went on to win the 1996 African Cup of Nations. "To Roger, his technical team and the players, this is the moment you have all been dreaming of and now it has come - go out there and do the best you can and we know you will deliver. "Get a good result at home and you have one hand on the trophy."

(File photo:Gallo Images)

- Sapa