African Stars defender Lyema Dopolo feels he belongs on Champions League stage after facing Orlando Pirates

African Stars defender Lyema Dopolo says facing Orlando Pirates in the CAF Champions League has strengthened his belief that he belongs at the highest level of African club football.

The Namibian side suffered a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their second preliminary round tie against the South African giants last week.

The match was played at the Botswana National Stadium because African Stars’ home ground in Namibia does not meet the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) stadium requirements.

Dopolo, a 22-year-old South African centre-back who previously played for SuperSport United, featured for African Stars and was impressed by the quality of the Pirates squad.

Ahead of Friday’s return leg, he highlighted the number of international players in the Buccaneers’ ranks as evidence of the challenge his side faced.

“Pirates are at a different level compared to African Stars. Half of the squad is representing their national teams, so that alone says a lot,” Dopolo told SAFJA.

He also praised the quality of Pirates’ attacking options, identifying Yanela Mbuthuma, Tshepang Moremi and Gamphani Lungu as players who represent their respective national teams.

“They are all national team players, and that on its own says a lot about the level of Orlando Pirates,” he said.

Dopolo described the Pirates players as intelligent and quick, but said the opportunity to test himself against such opposition was valuable to his development.

“I can say that they are quite smart and quick. But, as I have mentioned, it’s also good for me to test myself against the best,” he added.

The defender said stepping onto the pitch against a club with Pirates’ standing in African football was a memorable experience that gave him greater confidence in his own ability.

“It was quite a great feeling to step onto the pitch against Orlando Pirates… an institution in African football. Being up against the country’s best was a great feeling, and I cannot lie about that,” he said.

Dopolo added that the encounter had reinforced his ambition to compete regularly at the highest level of continental football.

“After that game, I felt like that’s where I belong — on this kind of stage in the CAF Champions League, sharing the pitch with national team players. I take a lot of positives from that game,” he said.

African Stars will look to overturn the first-leg deficit in Friday’s return fixture as they attempt to keep their Champions League campaign alive.