Bucs’ CAF Champions League lessons

It was Nelson Mandela, in his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom, who said, “After climbing a great hill, one finds that there are many more hills to climb.” It was credit to the Orlando Pirates technical team, players and backroom staff that the club managed to reach the group stages of the CAF Champions League in only the second season of their much-vaunted revolution. After registering one win, two draws and a loss in their African safari so far, the going only gets tougher for the Soweto giants. With two games remaining, and sitting in third position on the standings, of particular concern to the club’s legions of fans will be the humbling football lesson they received from Tunisian giants Esperance in their last encounter in the competition. Bucs’ lackluster performance on the afternoon of 12 February has raised a lot of doubts about the club’s readiness to wrestle with the big boys in a quest to conquer Africa and add another star above their badge. What now? Soccer Laduma’s Celine Abrahams examines the club’s progress (or perhaps lack thereof?) in the tournament so far…