Orlando Pirates begin CAF Champions League campaign in Mauritius

Orlando Pirates will begin their latest bid for continental success when they face Mauritian champions La Cure Waves in the CAF Champions League First Preliminary Round on Saturday afternoon.

The Buccaneers will travel to Mauritius for the first leg, aiming to secure a positive result before the tie returns to South Africa. A strong away performance would give the Soweto club an important advantage as they attempt to progress further than they did in last season’s competition.

La Cure Waves go into the match as the reigning champions of Mauritius’ top flight, but Pirates will arrive with considerable momentum. The South African side have won their past five domestic matches, scoring 13 goals and conceding none during that run.

That sequence has underlined the team’s attacking threat and defensive organisation, two qualities coach Abdeslam Ouaddou will want to see transferred to the continental stage.

Pirates made an early exit from the previous edition of the CAF Champions League. They were eliminated by Congolese club Saint-Eloi Lupopo in the Second Preliminary Round, despite recovering from a difficult position to level the tie.

The failure to advance was a significant disappointment for the club and its supporters, who will expect a more effective campaign this time. The opening match in Mauritius therefore offers Pirates the chance to establish control of the tie and avoid the pressure of having to overturn a deficit in the return fixture.

Although the Buccaneers’ recent domestic form has been impressive, continental competition presents a different test. They will need to manage the occasion carefully, remain disciplined away from home and make sure their strong run does not lead to complacency.

For Ouaddou and his squad, the encounter represents the first stage of what they hope will be a much longer journey in Africa’s premier club competition. The match is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, although the build-up also refers to it as Sunday’s clash.

Pirates’ expected line-up is:

Sipho Chaine; Kamogelo Sebelebele, Lebone Seema, Sbangani Zulu, Deon Hotto; Mthetheleli Mthiyane, Thapelo Mokobodi, Makhehleni Makhaula; Oswin Appollis, Tshepang Moremi, Yanela Mbuthuma.

The return leg will take place in South Africa, with Pirates seeking to ensure that their first assignment in Mauritius leaves them in a favourable position.

The club’s immediate objective is to avoid a repeat of last season’s early elimination and build on the confidence generated by five consecutive domestic victories. La Cure Waves, meanwhile, will look to use their status as Mauritian champions and home advantage to make the first leg competitive.

Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix