You can't say Orlando Pirates are the best team in Africa, but they're in the top two. If you're a Kaizer Chiefs fan, that should sting you a little bit. For the time being, Pirates are officially better than you.
You can argue that your team won the league and cup double last year - that's irrelevant when it comes to Africa's premier competition.
I'm going to tell you why Pirates are officially better than Chiefs for the time being. They have survived borderline-cheating, intimidation, lasers in their faces, scare tactics on their travels and they've had to play against Africa' s best teams over the course of a hectic few months.
They've possibly travelled about as much air-miles as the Nasa Curiousity Rover's mission to Mars, and they were drawn with three of the continent's most successful teams in the group stages. The way they rallied around each other when one of their own was under attack by another player, was also splendid to witness.
And, they came within Tlou Segolela's finishing of being crowned the Kings of Africa as well.
But, and this is important, one of the absolute key things to note about Bucs' success in Africa was the size, depth and quality of their squad. Please don't chop my legs off from underneath me when I say, 'I'm not sure Chiefs have that same level of depth and quality just yet.'
Look, guys, I'm the Kaizer Chiefs analyst at Soccer-Laduma. I've studied these guys inside-out everyday for at least the last three years. I know so much about Chiefs that I'm even aware Siphiwe Tshabalala was once an investor in a fast food chicken chain.
My concern is that if you were to lose a Shabba, a Reneilwe Letsholonyane or a Bernard Parker - it doesn't seem to appear that there will be sufficient cover to back them up. Lucky Baloyi's hardly had a kick for the last couple of seasons. Mandla Masango is firmly on the fringes these days. I mean is there really clear like-for-like cover at number 10 if say Parker was to be ruled out?
The one huge plus point is Knowledge Musona but he could be out injured until next year potentially.
Yes, defensively there's plenty of power in the centre back department and Ivan Bukenya's arrival provides cover for the important (and I think underrated) Willard Katsande. But further forward if injuries hit key players, my concern is how Chiefs' relatively smaller squad would cope with a gruelling Africa campaign.
My feeling is that Bucs' depth in central midfield and on the wings was absolutely key to how well they did in Africa. They were able to call on Thandani Ntshumayelo, Daine Klate, Sifiso Myeni, Lehlogonolo Masalesa, Andile Jali, Oupa Manyisa, Tlou Segolela, Khetowakhe Masuku and even Aubrey Ngoma at any given time.
You can't argue with that quality and depth, Chiefs fans. In my opinion, you just don't enjoy the same luxury. Yes, your starting eleven can generally be exceptional on any given day against pretty much anyone.
But will it be enough to withstand and at times, the brutal and gruelling Africa campaign? I'm not too sure though I hope I'm proved wrong of course.
For me, there's no doubt about it. Bucs' success in Africa should teach Chiefs that perhaps they need to add reinforcements to their squad.
As Bucs showed, you need toughness, physicality and technical quality to succeed against Africa's best. And, you need a lot of it!
Give it to me, I'm in space!
David Minchella
Soccer-Laduma journalist
