Ayanda Gcaba sighed, reclined into his chair and then took a sip of water.
'We're adjusting,' he said, his face contorting as though in pain 'We just have to hope that the guys are ready. Some guys are okay, some are not. We're just pushing to be okay for the weekend.'
For about a quarter of an hour at the PSL offices yesterday, the Orlando Pirates defender had looked to be handling things well, the versatile leftback discussing the Buccaneers' upcoming Telkom Knockout semi-final clash with SuperSport with some enthusiasm.
While he must have expected that the death of Senzo Meyiwa would feature prominently at the pre-match conference, Gcaba clearly would have loved to talk just football.
But until after Saturday night when Pirates play their first match without their departed goalkeeper, who was shot dead two Sundays ago, all discussions related to the Bucs will feature Meyiwa.
That the Buccaneers sent Gcaba - a bit-part player who might not even feature at Orlando Stadium tomorrow - was perhaps indicative of their belief in the defender's ability to handle arguably the hardest conference any Pirates player would ever have to face.
And he did alright, Gcaba hardly showing signs of breaking down as he discussed how his teammates have been handling their goalkeeper's tragic passing. 'They (psychologists) came in and spoke to us as a group and individuals. Training has been normal and we're pushing hard to be ready for SuperSport. We are aware we need to just stay focused and we're trying to motivate each other.'
Gcaba and the rest of the senior players at Pirates have directed most of that motivating to young Brighton Mhlongo, the long-serving Bucs reserve goalkeeper set to be in goal tomorrow night.
'It's been a heavy week. Brighton was devastated. But we told him to remain focused on the work ahead of us. We've been telling him to go out there and just be himself.'
Easier said than done, especially for the young goalkeeper who admired Meyiwa. But since Meyiwa's death, the former FC AK No1 has received the thumbs up from a number of sectors with Pirates Development coach Augusto Palacios saying Mhlongo shouldn't be underestimated and that he will ably fill the goalkeeeping void.
'We'll take things step by step and do it in memory of Senzo. And hopefully we will win (tomorrow) and go to the final and say we will win the trophy for Senzo.'
While also affected by Meyiwa's passing, SuperSport's condolences to Pirates will stop at the moment's silence likely to be observed before kick-off.
Once the whistle is blown, Matsatsantsa will go all out to book a spot in the final.
'It has been an emotional journey for everybody. It has been tough because we have guys who have played with him, who were his friends. But now we have to focus. It's football on Saturday and the league wouldn't have put this game on if we were to feel bad for Pirates and not want to inflict a loss on them,' SuperSport captain Thabo September said yesterday.
Having generally struggled against a Pirates side that knocked them out in the same competition last year, September believes they have a chance to get even.
'It's an opportunity to finally get a win over Pirates and we'll have to play our best game to beat them.'
September says they'll be buoyed by Wednesday's league win over Moroka Swallows.
Not that Pirates will be without motivation. The pain of Meyiwa's death is sure to drive them forward. After all, as the saying goes, they can be dangerous when wounded. - The Star