Deon Hotto set for CAF milestone as Orlando Pirates face former club African Stars

Deon Hotto can make his 50th appearance in CAF inter-club competitions for South African clubs when Orlando Pirates meet his former side African Stars in the CAF Champions League qualifiers.

The two teams will play over two legs in the second qualifying round, with the winner progressing to the group stage.

African Stars will host the first match at Botswana National Stadium in Gaborone on Saturday at 15:00 because the Namibian club does not have a stadium that meets CAF standards.

The return fixture will be played under floodlights at the Orlando Amstel Arena a week later, on Friday, October 23.

Hotto currently has 48 appearances in CAF inter-club competitions for South African clubs. Forty-two of those matches have come since joining Pirates, where the 35-year-old is now in his seventh season.

His record for the club includes 22 Champions League appearances and 20 in the Confederation Cup.

The Namibia international played in all 14 of Pirates’ continental matches during the 2024/25 season, when the Soweto club reached the Champions League semi-finals.

He made three appearances last season, including both legs of Pirates’ tie against Saint Eloi Lupopo.

Before joining the club, Hotto played a further six Confederation Cup matches for Wits, taking his total to 48.

The meetings with African Stars carry an additional significance for the left-footer, who will face his former club and fellow Namibians in the opening leg.

Hotto’s contribution to Pirates has also extended beyond his performances on the pitch. The veteran has committed himself fully to the club, and his latest contract was negotiated with options covering his post-playing career.

He turns 36 on October 29th.

The upcoming ties therefore give Hotto the chance to add two more appearances to his continental record while helping Pirates pursue another Champions League group-stage place.