Pirates set to succeed where Chiefs failed

IN many ways, Orlando Pirates’ glorious run in the Caf Confederation Cup is a mirror image of trailblazing Kaizer Chiefs reaching the final of the Champions League against all odds last season.

Tonight, Pirates will clash with Morocco’s RS Berkane in the Confederation Cup final at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria (9pm kickoff).

Last year Chiefs resolutely battled their way through the group and knock-out stages to reach the final against reigning Champions League holders Al Ahly at the Stade Mohammed V in Morocco. The 10-man Chiefs lost 3-0, but it was nevertheless a glorious feat to reach the final of Caf’s blue-ribband club competition.

Reaching the Confederation Cup final is in itself a glorious feat and winning the final will be magnificent. Pirates interim co-coach Mandla Ncikazi recently reflected on the side reaching the final by saying that when they started in the Confederation Cup no one would have predicted the team would reach the final.

At the time Pirates’ form in the Premiership hardly inspired confidence and coach Josef Zinnbauer was sent packing.

Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids have taken over the reins and guided the team to the final.

However, Pirates’ lacklustre performances in the league have made them objects of scorn as fans have been baying for their blood over the last few weeks.

Last season Chiefs’ form on the domestic front was far worse than Pirates, and they managed an eventual eighth place in the league at the end of the season. There were times when they hovered above the relegation zone, with coach Gavin Hunt at the helm. Hunt had replaced Ernst Middendorp who two seasons ago qualified the team for a Champions League berth with a runners-up finish in the league.

One player who believes Pirates can succeed where Chiefs failed is defender-cum-midfielder Bandile Shandu. He is dreaming of a winners’ medal around his neck when the team walks off the field after the final.

Before the team flew out to Nigeria on Wednesday, Shandu told the media that for a team like Pirates, it is all about winning.

“When you get to a team like Orlando Pirates, it’s about winning,” said Shandu, who is in his debut year with the Bucs after joining from Maritzburg United.

“So, you must quickly adjust to that and that’s the first thing I recognised when I came here, it’s winning.

“As a Pirates team, you need to have silverware because that is what the fans want.

“It is also what the players want, and you must quickly adjust to that. We will try to fulfil that dream and bring the silverware back home.”

Shandu says the team will be motivated by the sense of the occasion and will play with intensity, aggression and ambition. He urged the players to embrace the occasion with desire.

“The occasion itself just brings everyone to step up, to offer a bit more than the previous game,” said Shandu.

“I think to win, you need to be on top of your game. You need to be fully focused and work hard, nothing beats hard work.

“I think we will do very well. It’s an amazing feeling. The build-up to the final sets how big the occasion is and it’s a huge privilege to be part of a fantastic team.”

Berkane have a proud Confederation Cup record. They finished runners-up to Zamalek in 2019 and beat another Egyptian club, Pyramids, in the 2020 final.

They had a tougher path to the final than Pirates.

They emerged from a group that included former African champions Asec Mimosas (Ivory Coast). In the knockout stages, they toppled fancied teams Al Masry of Egypt and TP Mazembe (Democratic Republic of Congo) in the semifinals.