Former Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana believes Orlando Pirates have enough depth to be competitive in the group stages of the 2024-2025 Caf Champions League campaign.
The Sea Robbers last appeared at this stage in the 2018-2019 season and begin the first of six rounds of group matches on Tuesday against regular contenders CR Belouizdad of Algeria at Stade du 5 Juillet at 9pm.
Sundowns, the 2015-2016 winners, host Maniema Union of Congo at Loftus Stadium at 6pm in what will be their 10th successive qualification for the group stages.
While Masandawana are expected to hold their own in group B — which also has two Moroccan clubs AS FAR of Morocco and Raja Casablanca — the same cannot be said of 1995 champions Pirates, who return as dark horses in group C from a five-year group stage absence.
Pirates’ group includes record 12-time champions Al Ahly of Egypt and Stade d’Abidjan of Ivory Coast.
Having been impressed with Pirates’s remarkable start in the Betway Premiership, where they’ve opened the campaign with a record of seven successive wins, Kekana maintained the Sea Robbers would be competent.
“Pirates have been the exciting team this season, and I’m sure they’ll have a good run in the Champions League. It will be a good new experience for a lot of Pirates players, but you gain experience by putting yourself in a position to face teams and players you’ve not met before,” said Kekana, who was part of Pitso Mosimane’s Sundowns team that lifted the trophy in 2016.
I’d love to see younger players like Relebohile Mofokeng and those who’ve played for Bafana showing what they can do in this competition.
— Hlompho Kekana, former Mamelodi Sundowns captain
“They’ll improve, and they’ll get to know which level they are in continental football. It’s a good thing we have two strong South African clubs in the Champions League group stages this season.”
Pirates players lack the experience of playing in the business end of the Champions League, but Kekana insisted that did not mean they could not create their own history, the same way as Sundowns in recent years. “They’ll gain experience of the Champions League, and they’ll learn what not to do in this competition. You cannot teach them, but the game will teach you when you’re on the field because you’re competing against different game models,” said Kekana.
“For instance, they’re going to face Al Ahly, and that tells you it will be a learning curve for a lot of Pirates players. I’d love to see the younger players like Relebohile Mofokeng and those who’ve played for Bafana showing what they can do in this competition.”
Belouizdad have been a constant feature in the Champions League group stages, appearing four times in the last four years — with last season the only time they failed to make it to the quarterfinals.
While Pirates have had an impressive start in the Premiership, Belouizdad — who have South African striker Khanyisa Mayo on their books — have been blowing hot and cold in the Algerian Ligue 1, where they have two victories, four draws and two losses in eight games.
That the two wins came in the last two games away to ES Mostaganem and MC Alger will encourage Belouizdad’s new coach Abdelkader Amrani (68), who is in his second stint with the club. But chances of Mayo facing Pirates look very slim as the former Cape Town City attacker has only played seven out of 10 matches [in all competitions], and is yet to score or provide an assist.
“The only thing I will encourage Pirates to do is to approach Tuesday’s match the same way they’ve been doing in the [local] league this season. If they go with the same positive mind, they’ll stand a chance of doing well,” said Kekana.
Pirates will play two more Champions League matches against Ahly at Orlando Stadium on December 7 and away to Stade d'Abidjan on December 14 before they wrap up 2024 with two league matches against Sekhukhune United [December 17] and Magesi FC [December 29].
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