Bucs are chasing the big bucks

ORLANDO Pirates will be chasing a prize of R8.1m in next month’s Africa Confederation Cup final, the Confederation of African Football confirmed.

ORLANDO Pirates will be chasing a prize of R8.1m in next month’s Africa Confederation Cup final, the Confederation of African Football confirmed.

This is more than the top prize for a domestic cup competition (R8m in the MTN8), but shy of the R10m that the winner of the Premier Soccer League receives.

The runner-up in the pan-African competition this year will earn R5.6m, which is what Pirates are already guaranteed.

But club officials would likely be swift to point out the vast expense of taking part in the Caf competitions.

Although PSL clubs participating in African club competitions receive financial support from the league’s coffers, travel across the continent can be prohibitive.

To get to this year’s final, Pirates have had to travel to Uganda, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Tunisia and twice to Egypt. They still have another trip to Tunisia in the second leg of the final against Etoile Sahel.

Most trips for competition matches outside of southern Africa cost more than R300,000 in airfares and hotel costs, but Pirates could still come out with a profit from their adventure.