Steve Barker relishes Orlando Pirates reunion after CAF Champions League draw

Former Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker is looking forward to facing Orlando Pirates again after Simba SC were drawn alongside the South African club in the CAF Champions League group stages.

Barker, now in charge of Tanzanian giants Simba, will also have to contend with Moroccan side RS Berkane and Colombe Sportive of Cameroon if his team are to reach the knockout rounds.

“I’m naturally excited to be playing against Orlando Pirates. I’ve had many battles against them during my time in South Africa,” Barker told Azam TV.

“​​They are a really good team, having won the Premiership last season, so they are a tough opponent. And whenever there’s a newcomer like Colombe from Cameroon, that will also present a unique challenge.”

Barker’s familiarity with RS Berkane extends beyond the group-stage draw. He faced the Moroccan club during his time at Stellenbosch and also encountered them through Simba’s previous involvement in the CAF Confederation Cup.

“I’m very familiar with RS Berkane, as Simba is from the [CAF] Confederation Cup, and when I was with Stellenbosch, we also played them. They’re a big team from Morocco,” he said.

The fixture against Pirates will revive memories of the clubs’ meeting in the 2021/22 CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals. That tie finished 1-1 on aggregate after two tense legs, with Pirates eventually progressing on penalties.

Both clubs will now be aiming to make a significant impact in Africa’s leading club competition. Pirates qualified for the group stage after winning the 2025/26 Betway Premiership title, while Simba have reached this phase in four of their previous five CAF Champions League campaigns.

Barker accepts that the draw presents a demanding test, but says Simba cannot afford to focus too heavily on the reputation of their opponents.

“It’s going to be a very challenging group for us, but if you want to reach the far end of such tournaments, you have to get through the group stages regardless of the opposition,” he said.

“We have to find a way to ensure that we qualify for the knockout stages. I’m very excited overall and really looking forward to it.”

Pirates are South Africa’s only representatives in this season’s CAF Champions League group stages after Mamelodi Sundowns were eliminated in the preliminary rounds.

Their meeting with Simba will therefore carry particular interest, with Barker set to face familiar opposition and both sides seeking to secure progress towards the quarter-finals.