Orlando Pirates determined to avoid another CAF Champions League qualifying setback

Orlando Pirates will begin their CAF Champions League campaign away to La Cure Sylvester in Mauritius on Sunday, with coach Abdeslam Ouaddou determined to ensure last season’s costly mistakes are not repeated.

Pirates travel for the first leg of the preliminary qualifying round having made an excellent start to the domestic campaign. They currently lead the Betway Premiership and have also booked their place in the MTN8 final, strengthening their hopes of defending both trophies.

The trip to Mauritius, however, represents their most demanding test of the season so far.

La Cure Sylvester are likely to be unfamiliar opponents for Pirates and have limited experience at continental level, reflecting the relatively low profile of the domestic league in Mauritius. On paper, the meeting appears to favour the South African champions, who have won the CAF Champions League before.

But Pirates know better than most that reputation alone offers no protection in African competition.

They were eliminated at the final qualifying hurdle last season by St Eloi Lupopo. The Congolese team produced a stunning 3-0 victory in the first leg before Pirates forced the tie to penalties with a 3-0 win in Orlando. Lupopo ultimately prevailed in the shootout, denying Pirates a place in the group stage.

Complacency contributed to that failure. Ouaddou, who had only recently taken charge at the time, selected a largely makeshift side for the away match. The visitors were also affected by unfamiliar weather and the artificial playing surface.

Pirates were able to use the disappointment as motivation in domestic football. They ended a 14-year wait for the league title, won the MTN8 for a record-extending fourth successive time and lifted the newly branded Carling Knockout trophy for the first time.

This season brings a different set of difficulties for Ouaddou. The coach has been forced to rebuild again after 17 players left during the transfer window. Among those departures were regular first-team players Patrick Maswanganyi, Relebohile Mofokeng, Deano van Rooyen and Sipho Mbule.

Pirates are also without several important players because of long-term injuries. Thalente Mbatha, Sihle Nduli and Evidence Makgopa are all currently sidelined.

The club’s results suggest that Ouaddou’s reconstruction is progressing well, with seven victories and one draw so far. Yet the coach has repeatedly acknowledged that his team is not operating with the cohesion of a fully developed side and has often depended on individual quality to secure results.

That reliance could be tested further in Mauritius because Ghampani Lungu is a doubt after suffering a knock in Pirates’ 4-0 victory over Kruger in Mbombela. Lungu scored the opening goal in that match but was later stretchered from the field.

His possible absence would be a blow, although Ouaddou will hope Boitumelo Radiopane and Yanela Mbuthuma can maintain their recent form. Radiopane has scored twice and provided one assist in his past three matches, while Mbuthuma has contributed two goals and two assists across his last two appearances.

Pirates will need that attacking sharpness to establish control of the tie and demonstrate why they were crowned domestic champions last season. After the disappointment against St Eloi Lupopo, they will be wary of underestimating another less established continental opponent.