Orlando Pirates target second CAF Champions League title after reaching group stage

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has urged his players to “dream big” after the Buccaneers returned to the CAF Champions League group stages with a 4-0 win over African Stars.

The victory at Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday completed a 5-0 aggregate success, with Pirates having taken a narrow lead into the second leg.

The result was a significant moment for Ouaddou and his side after they were eliminated in the preliminary rounds last season. Qualification also delivered relief for the coach, who described reaching the group stage as a reward for the club’s supporters.

“I think it’s a big challenge for us, for me as well after what happened last season, after we couldn’t reach the group stages, this is a gift for our fans,” he said.

Pirates won their maiden CAF Champions League title in 1995. With their place among Africa’s leading clubs now secured, Ouaddou said the team should aim for more than simply progressing from the qualifying rounds.

The Moroccan wants his players to approach the competition with the ambition of winning a second continental crown, while acknowledging that such an achievement would require hard work and professionalism.

“Now we have to be ambitious, to try and go far (in the competition), why not? We have to dream big if you want to achieve something,” he said.

“Like I said to the guys, let’s dream big, can we not bring back the second second star if we work hard, remain professional, I think anything is possible in football.”

The group-stage campaign will present Pirates with a tougher challenge, as they prepare to face some of the strongest clubs in Africa. Their emphatic victory over African Stars has provided confidence, but they will need to maintain that level while also managing their domestic commitments.

Their next match comes on Tuesday in the Carling Knockout Cup, when they take on Milford FC. The short turnaround will test the squad’s depth as Ouaddou attempts to keep the team competitive in multiple competitions.

For Pirates, qualification is not merely the completion of an initial objective. It gives the club another opportunity to compete in a tournament that reflects its history and stature, while allowing Ouaddou to pursue the larger ambition he has set for his players.

The Buccaneers can now begin their group-stage campaign with the possibility of adding to the title they won in 1995. Turning the coach’s vision of a second star into a reality will depend on their performances once the continental competition resumes.