By Michael Madyira
Orlando Pirates are in Mauritius to face Madagascan side SC Disciples in a CAF Champions League first preliminary round, first leg match at the National Sports Complex on Sunday.
The Malagasy outfit is playing their Champions League home games in Mauritius following a ban by CAF on their football facilities.
That blocks Disciples from enjoying home support and gives Pirates an edge, but Buccaneers captain Innocent Maela admits they have little information about the Madagascan side.
“It’s going to be tricky because we don’t know much about our opponents, but we’re expecting a very dedicated team,” Maela told the media.
“A team that is very excited to play this match. It’s going to be a tough away match. In Africa, it’s not easy [winning games away from home].”
Despite being an unknown side in African football, the Indian Ocean Islanders remain a threat to Pirates
“We’ve seen a few clips of them,” Maela added.
“We know that they like passing each other. They are a ball-playing team but they also hurt teams in transition, so we must be very careful.”
“We are Orlando Pirates and we should be able to adapt to whatever style of play we come up with on the day, and we must not take them lightly.”
Pirates are trying to win the Champions League they last won in 1995 and reached the final of in 2013.
After a disappointing outing last season where they failed to reach the group stage at the hands of Jwaneng Galaxy, coach Jose Riveiro is pressed to do better this time around.
Pirates will be without three injured players Zakhele Lepasa, Thabiso Lebitso and central midfielder Miguel Timm.
Pictured above: Orlando Pirates players lining up before the MTN8 clash with SuperSport United
Source: Orlando Pirates
