Orlando Pirates set for first-class Mauritius venue in continental opener

Orlando Pirates will begin their continental campaign against La Cure Waves in Mauritius on Sunday, with the South African champions set to play at the Cote d’Or National Sports Complex, one of the most advanced sporting venues in Africa.

The Buccaneers travel to face the Mauritian side in the first leg of the first preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup after making an impressive start to the week with a 4-0 victory over Kruger United on Tuesday.

Their attention now turns from domestic action to continental football, with La Cure Waves preparing to host the visitors at a facility designed to stage major sporting events.

The Cote d’Or National Sports Complex is a multipurpose venue covering 19 hectares. Among its principal features are two FIFA-certified football pitches, while the wider complex includes three major facilities: the Main Hall, the Aquatic Centre and the Stadium.

The venue is presented as one of the leading sporting destinations on the African continent. According to the complex’s website, it ranks among the top five sports hubs in Africa and combines facilities for football, athletics, swimming and indoor sport.

“Rated in the top 5 sports hubs in Africa, this modern infrastructure is the only sports hub in the region to boast a FINA (Federation Internationale de Natation) certified 50M swimming pool, a World Athletics certified athletics track and field, two FIFA certified football pitch, an Olympic level indoor arena and a National High Performance Centre for elite athletes training, complemented with a progressive gym for community use,” the facility’s website states.

The complex’s amenities also include a 50-metre swimming pool certified by FINA, a World Athletics-certified athletics track and field, an Olympic-level indoor arena and a National High Performance Centre intended for elite athlete training. A gym for community use is also part of the development.

For Orlando Pirates, the trip to Mauritius provides the opening step in their latest African campaign. They will face La Cure Waves away from home before the tie progresses, with the first meeting taking place in surroundings that match the stature and ambition associated with the South African champions.

The Pirates squad arrives in Mauritius following a convincing domestic result against Kruger United, a performance that will have given the team momentum before its first preliminary-round assignment.

The Sunday fixture will be staged at a venue that offers considerably more than a conventional football ground. Its combination of certified pitches, swimming, athletics and indoor facilities has established the Cote d’Or National Sports Complex as a major sporting hub in the region.

Orlando Pirates will now look to transfer their recent winning form to the continental stage when they meet La Cure Waves in the opening leg.