Orlando Pirates face a massive uphill battle this weekend after a shocking 3-0 defeat to Saint-Eloi Lupopo in the first leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary qualifiers.
The Soweto giants will need a stunning 4-0 victory at home to stay alive in Africa’s top club competition.
HOW ORLANDO PIRATES WERE TREATED IN CONGO
While fans and pundits have been appalled at the Sea Robbers for the heavy loss, one insider insists there was far more to the story.
Metro FM DJ and Bucs fan Tbo Touch has revealed some of the extreme conditions the team faced in Lubumbashi.
“I did enough research, my team told me they were warned in the locker rooms that landmines were on the field,” Tbo Touch said on The Touchdown show.
“How are you going to play knowing that at any given time you might set it off? Everybody is going around saying Orlando Pirates lost 3-0. Do research.”
PLAYING ON EMPTY STOMACHS
The struggles didn’t stop once the players left the pitch. According to Touch, the team’s preparations were disrupted from the moment they arrived at the hotel.
“First of all, when they got to the hotel, they did not even have their regular breakfast. They did not have their regular breakfast. The nutritionist warned them. Told them guys we will have to go play hungry.”
To make matters worse, the steaming weather conditions on the green grass added another layer of difficulty for the visitors.
“And secondly, the weather was horrendous [hot conditions]. They should have called off that game the same way they cancelled the Cape Town Marathon,” Touch added.
Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates take on Polokwane City in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday, before the return leg against Saint-Eloi Lupopo on Saturday. Both games will be played at the Orlando Stadium.
Also read: Moeneeb Josephs on Congo trip: Fighting in the tunnel