Bucs back in Champions League with a bang

PIRATES announced their return to the CAF Champions League in style by thumping of Horoya at Orlando Stadium last night, a victory that put them at the summit of Group B after two matches, ahead of champions Esperance.

The Buccaneers came into this match needing to better Esperance’s 2-0 win over FC Platinum earlier in the day if they were to lead Group B. They did just that with a win that’ll remind the big boys that Pirates are back after a six-year absence.

Pirates were last in this stage of the Champions League in 2013. They went all the way to the final, which they lost to Al-Ahly.

While they might not look like finalists just yet, they did overcome a big hurdle last night.

The Guinean side came into the match unbeaten against South African oppositions in continental football. They defended in numbers and didn’t venture forward much when the scores were level. They didn’t hide the fact that they came here for a draw.

In their last two trips in the country, to face Mamelodi Sundowns in the Champions League last year and SuperSport in the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup, they returned to Conakry with a point from South Africa’s capital.

Soweto proved to be less hospitable. Buccaneers coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic challenged his team to be the first South African side to beat Horoya.

The Serbian coach jumped for joy when Thembinkosi Lorch put Pirates ahead just before half-time.

And their the artistry paid off again when Justin Shonga used his brains rather than power to complete his brace.

The Buccaneers held their own against a more experienced team in the Champions League. Pirates had a few players who have played in the group stage of the continent’s premier club competition, while Horoya lost in the quarter-finals last year and were in the group stage of the 2017 Confederation Cup.

Pirates’ technical team – from Sredojevic, who has criss-crossed the continent with clubs and national teams, to his assistant Rhulani Mokwena, who won the Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns – made up for that lack of experience on the field.