Orlando Pirates threw their CAF Champions League pedigree under severe scrutiny after being held 0-0 by tournament debutants La Cure Waves SC in the first leg of the first preliminary round at Côte-d’Or National Sports Complex in Saint Pierre, Mauritius.
The Buccaneers fired blanks all afternoon as they try to atone for last season’s failure to reach the group stage. They now host La Cure Waves at Orlando Amstel Arena next weekend, hoping for an improvement.
For the Indian Ocean islanders, they arrive in Johannesburg fancying their chances of causing an upset, also knowing that a scoring draw is enough to send them to the second preliminary round. Sunday’s encounter was another occasion in which Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou was found wanting in the Champions League again after suffering the agony of being knocked out by FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo last season.
FARPost takes a look at some of the major talking points from Sunday’s encounter.
CHRISTIAN DERBYSHIRE’S DEBUT AND HOW PIRATES LINED UP
Ouaddou opted to hand defender Christin Derbyshire his debut, and he kept a clean sheet. The left-footed 20-year-old started and partnered Lebone Seema in central defence, with Sipho Chaine just behind them in goal.
Sbangani Zulu was pushed at right-back with Deon Hotto providing experience on the left side of defence. Mthetheleli Mthiyane, Simphiwe Selepe and Cemran Dansin were the midfield trio.
Boitumelo Radiopane led the Pirates attack while supported by wingers Oswin Appollis and Daniel Msendami.
OUADDOU’S LUXURY TO REST PLAYERS
The former Morocco defender did not include in his matchday squad the likes of in-form Gamphani Lungu, Nkosikhona Ndaba, Mpho Padime, Sebastian Pedersen, who travelled to Mauritius and Tshepang Moremi, who recently returned from injury.
NOTHING WORKED FOR PIRATES
Even the introduction of Yanela Mbuthuma for Radiopane in the 64th minute did not translate into goals. Mbuthuma had arrived in Mauritius fresh from grabbing a brace against Kruger United in midweek to ease his goal-scoring woes.
But he struggled to find the back of the net against La Cure Waves. Ouaddou also tried to inject life into their performance by introducing the likes of Thapelo Mokobodi, Neo Rapoo and Bohlale Ngwato for Dansin, Hotto and Appollis respectively, but it still did not work.
PIRATES’ FAILURE TO EMULATE SUNDOWNS
Mamelodi Sundowns have a history of being ruthless to Indian Ocean islanders in these early stages of the Champions League. What comes to mind is the 11-1 aggregate obliteration of Cote d’Or FC from Seychelles in the 2019/20 season. The Brazilians won 5-0 away, before completing the job with a 6-1 victory at home.
In October 2022, Masandawana beat another team from Seychelles, La Passe, 7-0 away [although the match was played in Tshwane], before an 8-1 home win to seal a 15-1 aggregate scoreline. But Pirates struggled against La Cure Waves, with goals eluding them.
PLAYING ON ARTIFICIAL TURF
The pitch at Côte-d’Or National Sports Complex was synthetic grass, and that could have contributed to the Buccaneers’ struggles. But before heading to Mauritius, they trained on astro turf at the Nike Football Training Centre in Soweto to prepare for what awaited them.
LA CURE WAVES COMING FROM A LONG LAY-OFF
What was expected to work in Pirates’ favour was that they were up against opponents who last played competitive football on May 1. Even after La Cure Waves played against the Mauritius national Under-20 side and AS Port Louis in the Mauritius FA Challenge Cup to prepare for Sunday’s encounter, Pirates were expected to be way ahead in terms of match fitness.
PIRATES’ OPPONENTS MAKING THEIR CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DEBUT
La Cure Waves are making their Champions League debut and have never played continental football before. They are one of the three teams making maiden appearances in this competition, together with Zimbabwean champions Scottland FC and Lesotho’s Lijabatho FC.
They faced the former African champions, who are seasoned campaigners in this tournament. Although formed in 1996, the Mauritians have played top-flight league football for only the past two seasons.
That underlines their inexperience in Africa, but despite that, they pulled an upset against the Buccaneers.
DURBAN CITY EDGE RUKINZO
Meanwhile, at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban City edged visiting Rukinzo FC 1-0 to get their maiden CAF Confederation Cup campaign off to a winning start. The Burundian side’s midfielder Ally Magambo beat his own goalkeeper for an own goal in the 66th minute to hand City victory in this first leg of the first preliminary round.
It was a difficult outing for Khalil Ben Youssef’s men, who had to rely on the own goal to take the lead ahead of the second leg away from home. Magambo directed into the back of his own net Samkelo Maseko’s cut-back while under pressure from Gaston Sirino.
Going into the second leg, the Nedbank Cup champions would be aware that their first-ever goal in Africa was scored by an opponent, and it could be a reminder to improve themselves upfront to fancy chances of reaching the second preliminary phase.
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