Eugene Zwane, a former midfielder for Orlando Pirates, has voiced his belief that three key players in the squad are poised to make a significant impact in their upcoming CAF Champions League match against Al Ahly.
The highly-anticipated match is scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 7, at the iconic Orlando Stadium in Soweto, with kickoff set for 3 PM. This pivotal clash will see both teams competing not just for points but for momentum in the group stage of the tournament.
In their respective opening matches of Group B, both clubs showcased strong performances. Pirates achieved a commendable 2-0 victory away against the Algerian side CR Belouizdad, demonstrating their tactical prowess and resilience away from home.
Meanwhile, Al Ahly continued their tradition of excellence in African football by defeating Stade d’Abidjan from Ivory Coast with a convincing scoreline of 4-2 at their home ground.
This upcoming match carries an extra layer of significance for Pirates. The Soweto giants will seek to exact revenge for their previous encounter with Al Ahly in the 2013 Champions League final, where they were bested 3-1 on aggregate.
The stakes are high, and Pirates will be eager to capitalise on their home advantage and make a statement in front of their passionate supporters.
ZWANE SAYS MOHAU NKOTA, THALENTE MBATHA AND PATRICK MASWANGANYI WILL BE A THREAT AGAINST AL AHLY
Zwane believes that the trio of Mohau Nkota, Patrick Maswanganyi and Thalente Mbatha will be a threat against Al Ahly.
The three players have been regular starters for the Soweto giants, displaying great, consistent performances on the field.
Nkota, in his first season with the senior team, has made eight appearances in all competitions. The 20-year-old has found the back of the net four times. As for Maswanganyi, he has had a slow start after scoring one goal in 17 appearances across all competitions. Talented midfielder Mbatha has played 17 matches in all competitions and netted one goal.
“The main one there is the young Mohau Nkota. He’s been a revelation to everybody. No one expected him to come in and bang two goals in his first Champions League match. He’s already showing that he’s capable, and Pirates can count on him even though he’s still inexperienced,” Zwane told FARPost.
“Then there is [Patrick] ‘Tito’ Maswanganyi, who is picking up a lot of experience, and he’s becoming a lot more bolder, a lot more courageous. We have seen him at Bafana Bafana and we have seen him in the previous Champions League match.
“Thalente Mbatha he’s been playing simple but solid in midfield for Pirates. He’s been keeping things steady, protecting the defence and linking up with the forwards.”
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