Johannesburg — BELEAGUERED Orlando Pirates coach Rudi Krol yesterday furiously dismissed suggestions that he would be under pressure to end the Bucs' decade-long cup competition drought when the Telkom Knockout gets under way this weekend.

Pirates have not gone anywhere near the cup winner's podium since hoisting the now defunct BP Top 8 in August 2000, and a visibly agitated Krol said his charges should not be burdened with failures by previous Bucs sides.

"You should not blame this team for failures by previous Pirates sides," the fiery Dutch coach said.

"Stop looking at history. We cannot change the past but we certainly can change the future."

Krol is widely expected to be given the boot after Pirates - among the title contenders when the Premier Soccer League (PSL) campaign started - finished the season in fifth place at the weekend.

Speculation is mounting that the Bucs are already speaking to several possible replacements, with Brazilian Marcio Maximo joining the list of candidates yesterday.

Pirates have reportedly arranged to speak to the Tanzania national team coach as his contract is due to expire in four months. But even with speculation that Pirates are secretly speaking to possible replacements, Krol was adamant that he would still be at the helm next season.

"Pressure is always a nice thing and we always have to face it at a club like Pirates. But I do not feel it, because pressure feels me. This is nothing new."

Outspoken Pirates midfielder Dikgang Mabalane said Krol was not the reason the Bucs performed below expectation this season.

"Sometimes I think we talk too much as players," he said.

"I think that Krol is actually one of the best coaches we have ever had. Any team in the premiership would be happy to have a coach like him.

"I think that the players have to take responsibility for the way the season has panned out."

Pirates begin their annual attempt to end the long wait for silverware when they host Bloemfontein Celtic in the opening round of the Telkom Knockout at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

They will have to do without the services of Moeneeb Josephs, Lucas Thwala, Andile Jali, Teko Modise, Thulasizwe Mbuyane and Gert Schalkwyk, as all these players are in the Bafana Bafana training camp in Brazil.

These players form the nucleus of the Pirates squad, and the Dutch mentor will have to rely on a host of players he has barely used all season. But Mabalane insisted that Pirates should still be able to compete in this tournament, even without many of their star players.

"There really will be no excuses if we do not do well, even without all these players.

"I believe that we can win this tournament and we (the remaining players) should all have the same goal. Those players who were usually on the fringes should take this as an opportunity for them to shine."

Krol himself said he could not "cry" over the absence of his stars as he still has a squad of players who should be able to compete.

"We have to make do with what we have because there is really nothing that we can do about it. We have to look at getting past the first round and if we do that, only then can we look at the next round."

Celtic have their own challenges as they have had to refute speculation around the future of their coach, Owen da Gama.

Da Gama - who is incidentally a former Pirates coach - is believed to be about to make way for Gordon Igesund, who is with Free State Stars at the moment.

But Celtic team manager Khumbulani Konco was adamant yesterday that Da Gama would still be in charge next season.

"The coach is not going anywhere," a determined Konco said.

"Owen has signed a contract with us for two seasons and he will still be with us next season.

"We have not spoken to any other coach about joining us, especially Gordon Igesund."

Konco said contrary to what Pirates are saying, the Bucs would struggle without their star players.

"Pirates will be on the back foot against us because they will be missing several players, which is good for the country but not necessarily good for the club," he said.

"I doubt if their reserve players will be able to keep up with us."