Ntuthuko Maphumulo
Two South African clubs, Orlando Pirates and Santos, take part in Confederation of African Football (CAF) competitions this weekend.
Orlando Pirates play in the African Champions League, hoping to win the title a second time after they beat Asec Mimosa in the 1995 final.
They face TP Mazembe of Congo Kinshasa, also former winners of the top club trophy on the contintent, at the Makhulong stadium on Saturday in a second-leg tie. The teams drew 1-1 in the first leg.
Pirates have no hope of retaining their Premier Soccer League title and will be looking to Africa to put something in their trophy cabinet this season. An added attraction of the champions league is the $1-million cheque that awaits the winners.
A goalless draw for Pirates at home would ensure they qualify for the group stages of the tournament.
TP Mazembe, on the other hand, would love to win this game for their countrymen to bolster the goodwill begun by the talks held at Sun City recently. Mazembe also want to get into the group stages after being eliminated at the same point last year by another South African team, Sundowns, who went on to lose in the final to Al Ahly of Egypt.
Santos are in the Cup Winners’ Cup also known as the Mandela Cup won last year by African club of the year Kaizer Chiefs, who have been expelled from this year’s competition. Santos hope to defend the country’s honour when they face Asante Kotoko in Ghana. Santos have a tough second-leg encounter on their hands as they could manage only a 3-3 draw at home. In their away game in Kumasi, Santos must get a win or a draw with a score of 4-4 at least.
The draws for the group rounds of the champions’ league and the quarterfinals of the Cup Winners’ Cup take place on May 10.