While Orlando Pirates boast a decent pedigree in African football, having won the CAF Champions League a few decades ago, the Sea Robbers skipper Innocent Maela points out the tournament is still a new experience to the current group.
In the past, Pirates used to be a popular name in the Champions League which they won in 1995, were semi-finalists in 2006 and finished as runners-up in 2013.
While they also featured in the CAF Confederation Cup final in 2022, Maela and crew have struggled to put a solid campaign in the more prestigious Champions League over the past decade.
The best they have done in the top-tier tournament is reaching the group stages during the 2018/19 season.
After that, the Soweto giants crashed out of the preliminary rounds in 2019/20 and last season.
Maela understands the importance of guiding the club back to the African summit but pleads for patience as players learn how to compete in the continent.
READ: Jose Riveiro warns Orlando Pirates players about difficult Disciples FC
“The last time we played the final that you are speaking about (in 2013) most of those players that were there are no longer here with us,” Maela told media recently.
“Regarding this competition, we are a new group and it’s a new experience for most of us.
“For most players, it’s an opportunity to grow within the competition and approach it with a lot of humility,” he said.
“But yes, we look forward to competing with the best in the continent and testing ourselves. The club deserves to be there and that is where we want to be as players, we are very ambitious.
“We want to be in that space for as long as possible. But I think it’s unfair to go back to the group that played the final because most of those players are no longer here with us.
“This is a new group, new experiences and we want to go as far as possible in this competition and grow within the continental space,” Maela said.
The Buccaneers will hope for a better run this season as they face little-known but stubborn Disciples FC in the second leg of the preliminary round at Orlando Stadium on Friday at 19:30.
The first leg against the Madagascar champions ended in a goalless stalemate away.
Orlando Pirates captain Innocent Maela ahead of their Champions League, preliminary stage clash against Disciples.
— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) August 23, 2024
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