South African football legend Mark Fish has backed Orlando Pirates to succeed in Africa this season.
Pirates, who won the Betway Premiership last season, will begin their CAF Champions League campaign on Sunday when they face La Cure Waves in Mauritius for the first leg of a first qualifying round tie.
The Buccaneers are looking to progress at least into the group stage of the elite continental competition – something they failed to do last season when they were eliminated in the second qualifying round by DR Congo’s St Eloi Lupopo (5-4 on penalties after a 3-3 aggregate draw).
Fish, who was part of Pirates’ legendary 1995 team that won the Champions League (then known as the African Cup of Champions Clubs), believes this generation of Buccaneers players has what it takes to advance deep in the competition this season.
“I know the chairman [Irvin Khoza], deep down, his passion for Africa. We know it, and they desire to go into Africa and win it. This weekend, they’re travelling to Mauritius, and it’s important for them to get a result there,” Fish told Soccerbeat.
The former Bafana Bafana defender added, “You have players that have moved on and then new players, so that’s exciting. They have experienced players who have experienced Africa, and young players who don’t know it, so it’s an opportunity for them to express themselves.
“I do believe the coach will know how to handle the players.”
Fish wants to see his former club take it one step at a time in the Champions League, and ensure that they don’t repeat the mistakes of last season: “Reach the group stages and see how it goes.”
