Tapelo Xoki says it’s imperative for Orlando Pirates to secure CAF Champions football for next season.
The Buccaneers are currently in fifth place on the league standings with 26 points from 17 games.
They are a whopping 16 points behind table-toppers Mamelodi Sundowns, but only five adrift of second-placed Cape Town City and SuperSport United in third.
Xoki’s side ended as runners-up last time around, but their participation in the Champions League was cut short with a second-round exit to Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy, on penalties.
Despite recently losing to both SuperSport and Stellenbosch, they did hold Sundowns to a 1-1 draw in their last league tie.
Next up is a trip to face Polokwane City and the defender and captain says it is important for the Bucs to hit back against the relegation-threatened Rise and Shine.
Xoki said on IOL: “It is not going to be an easy game because they lost their last match, and they will be like a wounded animal in playing at home. We have not won in the last two matches, and we need to get back to winning.”
The player added: “For a big club like ours, it is a no-brainer that we must be in CAF. We had the disappointment of this season, and we have to make a correction to that.
“At the beginning of every season, we know we have to start and be in the CAF competition because that is the responsibility we are entrusted with.
“We will take it one game at a time, and next up is Polokwane. We have to make sure we prepare well, go there with a positive mindset of trying to get our campaign in the league back on track.”
