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Cape Town - Former Orlando Pirates defender Edward Motale backs the current team to achieve success in their CAF Champions League campaign
Pirates entered the group stages of Africa's premier club competition under controversial circumstances after a narrow 3-2 aggregate win over four-time champions TP Mazembe.
Soccer Laduma's website reports that Roger de Sa and his team will be looking to emulate the Pirates team of 1995, by winning the competition and adding a second star to their crest.
Motale was part of the team who made history in '95, when Pirates became the first and only club to win CAF's continental showpiece, and says he sees similarities between the current squad and the team he played in almost 20 years ago.
“I think they have a chance to go all the way. The positive sign about them is that they have been winning their games at home in this competition. If they continue to win their games at home there is a chance.
“It will be wise for them to add more players to the team. If there is a limit, it will be wise for them to replace the injured players with new players. The advice that I can give them is that they will need to focus on their plan for these kind of games. They must be willing to fight and compete. It’s tough out there.
“I’m tired of hearing my name every time the star in the Pirates jersey is mentioned. I was telling Lucky (Lekgwathi) the other day that I’m tired of hearing my name every time this competition is on. But as long as he hasn’t lifted the trophy yet, people will continue talking about me, Jerry (Sikhosana) and the rest of the guys from our generation,” said Motale.
The draw for the group stage of the CAF Champions League takes place tomorrow at 14:00 (CAT) with the first games in the group phase will take place during July 19-21.
