Orlando Pirates legend Happy Jele has urged caution and called for realistic expectations as the Soweto giants prepare to make their return to the CAF Champions League while defending their Betway Premiership crown.
The Soweto giants are back in the Champions League after failing to reach the group stage last term. Congolese giants FC Saint-Eloi Lupopo knocked out the Buccaneers after a valiant comeback that overturned a 3-0 defeat suffered in the away leg of the second preliminary round.
Throwing Pirates under the spotlight was that they had reached the semi-finals of the Champions League the previous season under Jose Riveiro. But the arrival of Riveiro’s successor, Abdeslam Ouaddou, saw The Ghost running into a glitch in this competition while failing to build on what was set the previous term.
However, Ouaddou managed to atone for that failure by guiding his team to a treble by winning the Betway Premiership, MTN8 and the Carling Knockout. Thirty-one years have now passed without Pirates winning the Champions League, which they clinched in 1995.
They came close in 2013 when they reached the final of Africa’s premier club tournament but were beaten by Al Ahly.
HAPPY JELE COOLS DOWN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EXPECTATIONS ON PIRATES
Jele, who was part of the 2013 group, which reached the Champions League final, has moved in to offer a measured assessment of Pirates’ continental chances this season.
“I think for now, let’s not put much pressure; we just need to compete on the highest level. I’m happy that Orlando Pirates are playing in the CAF Champions League again, and we just need to perform very well,” Jele told FARPost.
“Now there are going to be a lot of games, they will play domestic cups and also abroad. They need depth, and you can see with the signings that they made, they thought about depth.
“I believe that if they are capable of winning the Betway Premiership, they can still go through and compete in the Champions League. But it’s very difficult [to reach the Champions League final] as a player because there is a lot of travelling and things that happen around. After every two days, you are playing a game,” added Jele.
“You need to be mentally fit, mentally prepared to compete in those moments. In other countries, it’s very difficult; you just need to be strong mentally.
“I believe with the players that we have at Orlando Pirates, they also know what they are capable of because some of them have been in the Bafana Bafana setup, and they have been travelling. So, the experience is there, and they know what to do.”
HAPPY JELE PRAISES PIRATES SIGNINGS BUT WARNS OF HEAVY LEAGUE PRESSURE
Despite targeting the Champions League, Pirates are also bidding to defend the Betway Premiership crown, which they lifted last season. It was a triumph which saw the club end a 14-year drought in this competition.
While Jele has confidence in the nine signings made by the Soweto giants so far for this season, he feels the pressure to defend the league title will weigh heavily on their shoulders.
“I believe Orlando Pirates have signed good players who will compete in the league, and obviously, we have a lot of pressure. They just need to take the performance that they put in last season and continue with that,” the former Buccaneers skipper went on.
“But it is not going to be easy; it is going to be very difficult because each and every team wants to play against them and wants to win against them. They have pressure, but I believe that Orlando Pirates, with the signings that they have, are all quality.
“They knew what they wanted, and I believe that they will compete for the league again.”
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