admin
ORLANDO Pirates attempt to climb one more major hurdle tomorrow in their bid to win the African Champions League having already made their ability to bounce back from adversity something of an accomplishment.
This year’s continental campaign has been one littered with tough obstacles that the Buccaneers have been able to overcome, but there remains one more in Cairo tomorrow.
It might seem a veritable mountain that the Buccaneers must climb; they have to score to have any chance of emerging African champions at the home ground of the most successful club in Africa. Failure to score will hand the title back to Al Ahly.
But if past precedent is anything to go by, then Pirates know how to deal with adversity:
Beating the first-round blues: For two successive years, Pirates had embarrassed themselves with a first-round exit in the Champions League.
First, at the hands of minnows Gaborone United of Botswana, and then in 2011 against new boys Recreativo Libolo of Angola, who hammered Bucs in Port Elizabeth in the first leg of their tie.
Artificial pitches: Playing in the Comoros Islands in the first round was not much of a sporting contest but indicative of the travelling travails to come. Extreme heat and a plastic pitch were new to Pirates who shrugged off the novelty to win the tie against Djabal FC.
Moise Katumbi and the Seychelles referee: In Lubumbashi, the TV cameras were switched off, Pirates had personnel cloistered away by gun-toting soldiers and then ran a gauntlet of bizarre decisions from Seychelles referee Bernard Camille, whose hand seem permanently pointed at the penalty spot in the Pirates box. Mazembe owner Moise Katumbi wondered afterwards what the fuss was all about but had to accept Pirates proved more resilient on the pitch than his shenanigans.
Egyptian turmoil:Pirates were hesitant about travelling to Egypt just weeks after mass demonstrations, civil unrest and a military coup. They asked CAF to move their group matches against Ahly and Zamalek to a neutral venue but were denied, forced to fly into the unknown, to the concern of family, friends and supporters.
Failing to win the group:
Pirates looked to have sabotaged their chances when they failed to win the group, having had a handsome lead at the halfway stage but then collecting a single point out of nine from their last three games. Ahly held them goalless at the Orlando Stadium, which meant missing out on the much easier semifinal opponents, Coton Sport of Cameroon.
Esperance away: Being held at home in the first leg of their semifinal tie, Pirates had the odds stacked against them away in the return in north Africa. But they proved their status as road warriors as they drew 1-1 in Tunisia to advance on away goals after a match in which they were plainly the better team and should have scored more. – Sowetan.
Online Reporter