Orlando Pirates have enjoyed a flying start to the domestic season, currently topping the Betway Premiership standings and having secured a spot in the MTN8 final – achievements that bode well for their title defence aspirations in both competitions.
However, Pirates face their toughest challenge yet in the CAF Champions League this season, beginning with the first leg of the preliminary qualifiers away to La Cure Sylvester in Mauritius this Sunday afternoon.
La Cure Sylvester are likely an unfamiliar opponent for Pirates. As an island side, they lack a significant continental pedigree due to the lower profile of their domestic league.
Ordinarily, meeting a lowly ranked continental team might be considered a guaranteed win for former champions Pirates. However, they have learned the hard way that nothing should be taken for granted on the continent.
They failed to reach the group stage at the final hurdle last season after losing to St Eloi Lupopo. The Congolese side shocked Pirates with a 3-0 home win in the first leg before settling the tie on penalties following Pirates’ 3-0 victory in Orlando.
Pirates’ downfall against Lupopo was partly due to complacency, as then-new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou fielded a largely makeshift team away. Unfamiliar weather and artificial pitch conditions further hindered the visitors.
While one could argue that Pirates used that setback as motivation – channeling their energy into domestic football where they ended a 14-year league title drought, won a record-extending fourth consecutive MTN8 crown, and claimed the newly branded Carling Knockout title for the first time – this season presents an entirely different challenge.
Ouaddou has had to rebuild yet again following the departure of 17 players during the transfer window, including regulars like Patrick Maswanganyi, Relebohile Mofokeng, Deano van Rooyen and Sipho Mbule. Furthermore, core players such as Thalente Mbatha, Sihle Nduli and Evidence Makgopa are nursing long-term injuries.
Judging by their impressive start across the board, it would be easy to assume Ouaddou is already hitting the right notes while rebuilding. However, he has conceded several times that the team are yet to function as a well-oiled machine, relying heavily on individual brilliance to secure seven wins and one draw so far this season.
One player who has notably fuelled the team’s bright start, Ghampani Lungu, may not be available for the trip to Mauritius this weekend. He sustained a knock and was stretchered off after scoring the opener in the 4-0 win over Kruger in Mbombela.
While Lungu's absence is a setback, Ouaddou will hope the attacking duo of Boitumelo Radiopane and Yanela Mbuthuma continue their rich vein of form. Radiopane has two goals and an assist in the last three matches, while Mbuthuma has contributed a brace and two assists in his last two outings.
The duo are hitting form exactly when Pirates need them most. The team will require clinical finishing to set the tone for the remainder of the continental campaign if they are to prove why they were crowned local champions last season.