It’s been three decades since the Sea Robbers sailed their ship to the pinnacle of African football, winning the CAF Champions League.
Thirty years could be a long time and a short time in football. But for Orlando Pirates, it must feel like a lifetime considering their run on the continent.
It’s been three decades since the Sea Robbers sailed their ship to the pinnacle of African football, winning the CAF Champions League. But as the winds of positivity continue to blow through the club, the standard expectation from The Ghost is to see the team challenge for everything up for grabs this season.
On the domestic front, the Buccaneers are expected to defend both the Nedbank Cup and MTN8, while winning the Betway Premiership and the Carling Knockout cup as well.
Those aspirations have got off to a flyer in the MTN8 as they beat SuperSport United 3-1 to reach the semi-finals where they’ll face Cape Town City over two legs. On the continent, the team is expected to put up a fight for the title as well, especially in honour of their 30-year anniversary since their first and only star.
This might be a huge task given that their last continental final was in the 2015 Confederation Cup, but it’s not impossible to achieve.
After all, as Pirates kick off their Champions League preliminary round qualifiers away to CNaPS Sports on Sunday, they’ll wear the favourites tag. But they’ll only put that tag to good use if they turn up and look the part – unlike when they lost to lowly-ranked Jwaneng Galaxy in the second round last season.
Pirates have one of the most talented squads on the domestic front and on the continent, which is why they’ve been the second-best team in the league behind Mamelodi Sundowns. Some of their players have also matured in recent years as they were part of Bafana Bafana’s team that won the bronze medal in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
With the likes of Patrick Maswanganyi and Relebohile Mofokeng only shining on the domestic front last season, they’ll need to take their game up a level on the continental stage. After all, the duo will continue to grow and be consistent only if they compete against the best players that African football has to offer.
Regarding consistency, they can look up to Themba Zwane – the 35-year-old is continuing to be a key player for both club and country, thanks to the invaluable lessons he got in Africa.
Overall, the experience that Sundowns’ players have garnered on the continent hasn’t only allowed them to thrive on a local front, but with Bafana Bafana as well. And that’s why Hugo Broos hasn’t shied away from calling up most of his players from the Brazilians and continued to play them, too.
You see, inter-club football in Africa is usually regarded as a “juggling act” given the hostile conditions that visitors face. But for any footballer to grow and develop, they need to take that on the chin and represent their club and country to the best of their abilities.
The contract of Pirates’ coach Jose Riveiro is in its last year, and having a full run in the Champions League will stand him in good stead for the future. Sure, the Spaniard has already proven to be no plumber on the domestic front, winning four trophies, but he knows that he can’t rest on his laurels.
The urge to do well both locally and on the continent should be his priority, especially given the fact that this season marks 30 years since the team last conquered the continent.
