Orlando Pirates face ‘largely amateur’ La Cure Waves in CAF Champions League

Orlando Pirates have been warned that La Cure Waves SC, their first-round opponents in the CAF Champions League, will struggle to compete with the defending Betway Premiership champions.

The Mauritius champions, based in Port Louis, have been drawn against Pirates in the opening qualifying round of this season’s competition. The first leg will be played away on 5 September, with the return fixture scheduled for the following week at Orlando Amstel Arena.

The tie will mark only the second time Orlando Pirates have faced opposition from Mauritius in the CAF Champions League.

Their previous meeting came in 2006, when Pirates scored nine goals across two legs against AS Port-Louis 2000 in the first round. Isaac Chansa, Lelo Mbele, who scored twice, Gift Leremi and Joseph Makhanya were on target in the away match.

Tyren Arendse also scored twice in the second leg, while Daniel ‘Sailor’ Tshabalala and Davies Mwape completed the scoring.

Two decades later, the Soweto club will again travel to Mauritius for a continental fixture. Former Santos striker Jean-Marc Ithier believes the gulf between the two sides will be significant.

“What I can assume is that they will have a hard time against Pirates,” Jean-Marc Ithier tells KickOff.

Ithier is regarded as the most prominent Mauritian footballer to have played in the PSL. He made a successful move to Santos from the Indian Ocean island and scored in double figures for five consecutive years after arriving.

He joined The People’s Team at the age of 34, but continued to be productive, scoring 71 goals before retiring at 41 in 2006.

“Pirates are a step ahead as champions of the PSL, so they will be too much for La Cure Waves.

“That’s for sure.

“Football in Mauritius doesn’t compare to the PSL at all and has dropped in recent years, and I don’t know when it will improve again.

“All the local players have day jobs in Mauritius, and they play football as a hobby.

“So, that is why I say Pirates will be favoured to proceed because they will be up against largely amateur opponents,” says Ithier.

The assessment presents Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side as clear favourites to reach the next qualifying round. Pirates will first have to negotiate the away fixture in Port Louis before concluding the tie at home a week later.

La Cure Waves’ appearance against the South African champions provides the club with a meeting against one of the continent’s established sides, while Pirates begin their pursuit of another successful CAF Champions League campaign.