Al Ahly are big, but Orlando Pirates are also a big team, says Mabasa

FOR a club returning to continental football’s top table for the first time in a long while, you’d think Orlando Pirates would be content with making it to the knockout stages.

After all, just about everyone in Jose Riveiro’s team – the coach included – is a rookie in CAF Champions League football.

Making it to the knockout stages should, therefore, be an achievement to be proud of.

These group of Buccaneers, though, are an ambitious lot – accustomed as they are perhaps to winning silverware – albeit on the domestic front.

Winning, so the saying goes, is a habit, and Pirates just want to keep at it.

Guaranteed a spot in the quarter-final alongside record champions Al Ahly, Pirates are now looking to finish top Group C over the Egyptian giants.

The two teams play each other out in Cairo on Saturday evening (6pm kick-off), with Pirates enjoying a one-point lead over the African Club of the Century.

Yet, with Ahly’s pedigree – they’ve been continental champions 12 times and are looking for a third successive title – and the fact that they got a point at Orlando Stadium, the smart money surely would be on them garnering maximum points in their own backyard.

Pirates have other ideas, though.

“Yes, Al Ahly is a big team. But we are also a big team, and we want to finish first just as much as they want to finish first. The final game of the group will be a tough one, but we are up and ready for it,” striker Tshegofatso Mabasa said after the 2-1 victory over CR Belouizdad that secured Pirates the quarter-final spot.

His teammate Thalente Mbatha, who scored a scorcher of a goal at Orlando Stadium last weekend, reiterated Mabasa’s standpoint.

“It’s definitely a dream to finish top of the group. Ahly is not an easy team, but I am sure the gents are going to be able to put on a show out there in (Cairo). It is something we want to do, topping the group.”

🏆#TotalEnergiesCAFCL

FT|| @orlandopirates 2 v 1 CR Belouizdad

🎙️ Thalente Mbatha
🗓️ 12 January 2025
🏟️ Orlando Stadium

⚫️⚪🔴⭐#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/sCrdlG0Mse

— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) January 12, 2025

Pirates need only avoid defeat at the weekend to finish top of Group C.

But with their predecessors who donned the famous black-and-white having won at Ahly in the past, there is every reason for the Class of 2024/25 to believe they too can be victorious in the cauldron of the Cairo Stadium.

Roger de Sa led Pirates to a 3-0 win against Ahly in the group stage of the 2013 Champions League, and then two years later, Eric Tinker was in charge when the Buccaneers won 4-3 in a defeat of the Red Eagles in the Confederation Cup semi-final.

As motivating as this beautiful history might be, Pirates would be well advised to remember that on those occasions, the matches were played away from Cairo – the Champions League clash was in El Gouna – while Tinkler and his team won at the New Suez Stadium.

When they played in Cairo – the 2013 final second leg match – Ahly reigned supreme via a 2-0 score.

Not that Riveiro’s men will be thinking too much about matches from the past.

☠️ ⏪️ 𝗬𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗖𝗧𝗔𝗠 ⏪️

🎤 Patrick Maswanganyi
🆚 CR Belouizdad
🏟 Orlando Stadium
🗓️ 12 January 2025

⚫️⚪️🔴⭐️#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/0NVP8SOSrG

— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) January 14, 2025

“We’ve made it to the next round, and it really means a lot for us as players because it is what we wanted to achieve,” Mabasa said.

“We have worked long and hard during the pre-season, and this is all a build-up from last season as well.

“This is what we wanted to achieve together as a team, and we are just glad that we can go on to the next round.

“Hopefully we can continue to work hard, continue to get the results that we wish to get, and hopefully go all the way in this tournament.”

The Buccaneers will no doubt be aware that this year marks 30 years since the club won this competition, and what better way to mark the anniversary by adding a second star above the club’s crossbones and skull insignia. | Independent Media Sport