Orlando Pirates captain Nkosinathi Sibisi has opened up about the Sea Robbers’ challenging CAF Champions League group stage draw, which pits them against Tanzanian powerhouses Simba SC, Moroccan heavyweights RS Berkane, and Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive.
The Buccaneers advanced to the group stage after successfully navigating the preliminary rounds with convincing performances. Pirates kicked off their continental campaign with a comfortable 3–1 aggregate win over Mauritius-based La Cure Waves SC in the first preliminary round before dismantling Namibia’s African Stars FC 5–0 on aggregate in the second preliminary round.
Now drawn into a demanding Group C, Pirates will be targeting a strong group-stage campaign to secure passage to the knockout rounds and take a major step toward ending their long continental trophy drought.
The defending Betway Premiership champions last lifted Africa’s premier club trophy in 1995, and are eager to emulate South African rivals Mamelodi Sundowns, who clinched the title last season.
SIBISI ACKNOWLEDGES CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TEST
Reacting to the group stage draw, Sibisi acknowledged the stiff test ahead while viewing it as an ideal benchmark for the squad’s progress on the continent.
“I think the Champions League is a different ball game. I think it’s a level higher and I think it’s going to be a good test to see where we are as a team,” Sibisi said.
“So in the past two seasons we fell short; we’ve been able to try to rectify where we thought we fell short, so for us it’s just looking forward to playing the competition and for our boys to get the much-needed experience.”
Pirates will launch their group stage campaign on November 28 with a daunting away trip to Dar es Salaam to face Simba SC.
The captain’s continental focus follows a triumphant weekend domestically. Sibisi led from the front as Pirates earned a hard-fought 2–1 victory over arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto Derby at FNB Stadium.
Goals in either half from Yanela Mbuthuma and Tshepang Moremi secured all three points for the Ghost, keeping them firmly in the title race. The victory leaves second-placed Pirates on 25 points from nine matches, just one point behind log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
The former Golden Arrows centre-back has been a vital figure in Pirates’ squad since joining the club in July 2022. The Bafana Bafana international went on to make 142 appearances across all competitions, winning four MTN8 titles and the league, among many other trophies.
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