Orlando Pirates warned of another difficult SADC test against African Stars

Orlando Pirates may look stronger than African Stars on paper, but club legend Tlou Segolela believes their record against teams from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) makes Saturday’s CAF Champions League tie a serious challenge.

The two sides will meet at Botswana’s National Stadium in Gaborone in the first leg of the second preliminary round, with African Stars using the venue as a temporary home ground.

The Namibian club has been forced to relocate because of the country’s current lack of CAF-compliant football facilities. African Stars also hosted the home leg of their first preliminary round tie at Lucas Moripe Stadium.

Segolela said Pirates’ previous meeting with African Stars should serve as a warning. The Johannesburg club won that encounter 1-0 in 2018, a result he believes underlines how closely contested the fixture could be despite the apparent difference between the teams.

“On paper, African Stars have little chance against Pirates. However, football is decided by the players on the field and their commitment. We should remember that we played them in 2018 and won by only 1-0, which shows how difficult they can be,” Segolela told KickOff.

He also pointed to Pirates’ past problems against opponents from the region, including their most recent elimination by a Botswana club.

“Teams from SADC countries such as Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini always raise their level against Pirates. I do not know why, but we tend to struggle against them, and the matches are usually not high-scoring. Last time out, we were knocked out by a team from Botswana, and now we are playing in the same country,” he said.

Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side travelled to Botswana seeking a positive first-leg result as they target a place in the lucrative group stage. Pirates were eliminated early in the competition last season, increasing the importance of making progress this time.

The preparation has presented the coaching staff with a tactical challenge. Namibia’s top-flight season has not yet started, leaving video analysis as the main method of evaluating African Stars.

Pirates are also waiting for clarity on the availability of winger Oswin Appollis, who was carried off on a stretcher during a league match in midweek.

African Stars will arrive with fresh momentum under newly appointed head coach Gerald Guther. They progressed from the previous round by eliminating Gabonese club AS Mangasport and have already reached Gaborone.

The Namibian side are not expected to sit back, adding another layer of uncertainty to a match Pirates are expected to contest in front of strong support. Orlando Pirates supporters’ branches in Botswana, together with fans travelling from South Africa, are expected to create an atmosphere at the National Stadium that resembles a home fixture for the visitors.