The Soweto giants are leveraging a Spanish pre-season tour to bridge the gap with rivals Mamelodi Sundowns on the continent.
The pressure on Orlando Pirates is no longer just about domestic dominance. While the club seeks to defend its status as reigning South African champions, the psychological benchmark has shifted toward continental glory. The club’s focus is now squarely on the CAF Champions League, a competition they first won in 1995 but have since seen Mamelodi Sundowns dominate in terms of modern consistency.
The Continental Benchmark and the “Two Star” Gap
For the Buccaneers, the rivalry with Mamelodi Sundowns is measured in stars. Sundowns currently boast two stars above their badge, a visual reminder of their continental success that has created a specific internal pressure within the Pirates camp.
“I always say, man, if you’re playing for a big team, especially Pirates, you don’t have anything to defend, because the previous season is gone. You still need to achieve again in the following season. Right now, we’ve got pressure because Mamelodi Sundowns have got two stars above their badge. It’s telling us that we need to put another star on our shirt as well.”
Chikoya
This ambition follows a period of volatility in the competition. Pirates previously suffered a stunning exit when Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy defeated them 5-4 on penalties. Despite dominating the second leg of that last-32 tie in Soweto and scoring via substitute Evidence Makgopa, a gamble to bring on goalkeeper Richard Ofori in added time failed to prevent the exit. Galaxy’s victory secured them a place in the group phase and at least $700,000 (€660,000) in prize money.
Quarterfinal Path and Ranking Hurdles
The road back to the top has been grueling.
Spanish Tour and Tactical Integration
To prepare for this multi-front assault, the club has launched a pre-season tour in Spain. The tour opened with a 1-1 draw against Segunda Division side Cordoba CF. The match served as a testing ground for new signings Ghamphani Lungu and Sbangani Zulu, both of whom started under coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.
The game remained 0-0 at halftime before Javi Antras scored for the Spaniards in the 68th minute. Boitumelo Radiopane provided the equalizer seven minutes later. This encounter is the first in a demanding series of friendlies designed to sharpen the squad before the domestic season begins.
- July 18: Match against Cadiz CF (Segunda Division)
- July 21: Match against Al-Ittihad (Saudi Pro League)
- July 22: Match against UD Las Palmas (LaLiga)
- July 24: Tour conclusion against Neom SC (Saudi First Division)
Betway Premiership Defense and Fixture Congestion
The domestic calendar offers little respite.
The high stakes of this period are amplified by the return of the Soweto derby on October 31, when Pirates host Kaizer Chiefs at Orlando Stadium.
The club’s ability to manage this congestion will be the deciding factor in whether they can realistically pursue both the league title and the elusive “third star” on their shirt.
The critical uncertainty remains whether the squad’s depth, tested during the Spanish tour, is sufficient to avoid the fatigue that has hampered their previous continental campaigns.
Worth a look
