Orlando Pirates’ Champions League tie with African Stars worth R11,3 million

Orlando Pirates will meet Namibian champions African Stars in the second qualifying round of the CAF Champions League, with a place in the group stage carrying a prize of USD700 000 (approximately R11,3 million).

The first and second legs are scheduled to take place between October 16-18 and October 23-25. The winner of the tie will advance to the round-robin stage of the competition.

African Stars are coached by former Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronnie Kanalelo, who spent his entire playing career with the South African club.

Kanalelo joined Mamelodi Sundowns at the beginning of the 1997/98 season and remained there until the conclusion of the 2004/05 campaign. The Brazilians were the only club he represented as a player.

He later worked as a goalkeeper coach at Bloemfontein Celtic and Maritzburg United before departing from both roles in circumstances that left him disgruntled.

African Stars secured their place in the next round against Gabonese side AS Mangasport through the away-goals rule. They overturned a 3-1 first-leg defeat by winning the return match 2-0.

The decisive second leg was played at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Pretoria because Namibia currently has no stadiums approved by CAF to host matches in the competition.

That issue could again affect the tie against Pirates, with African Stars expected to stage their home match, which will be the first leg, in South Africa.

Such an arrangement would mirror last season, when Lesotho club Lioli also had to play its home fixture in South Africa. African Stars’ alternative would be to host the match in neighbouring Botswana.

The Namibian side’s limited resources will also be a factor, with the club operating on a much smaller budget than Pirates.

African Stars’ financial position is similar to that of La Cure Waves, who also competed with limited resources compared with their opponents.

The tie therefore gives Pirates another potentially significant advantage as they seek to reach the lucrative group stage of the CAF Champions League.