Former Orlando Pirates assistant coach Teboho Moloi has criticised CAF for a decision that he feels could have a negative impact on the Buccaneers going into the Champions League semi-finals against Pyramids FC.
The Buccaneers are close to reaching the final of the Champions League for the first time since doing so in 2013, but face a tough challenge against a club that has been in good form this season.
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The Buccaneers host the first leg clash at FNB Stadium this weekend and Moloi is not happy with the fact that the Soweto giants have to be at home first. For Moloi, this brings back bad memories of losing out to Al Ahly, as assistant coach, in the 2013 final. The Buccaneers drew the first leg at home 1-1 and went on to be beaten 2-0 in the second leg in Egypt.
"I am very disappointed that CAF has given us the first leg at home. It seems like the North Africans always get the second leg. You know what happened to us (in 2013)," Moloi told media during a SuperSportBet event at FNB Stadium, where the company launched a Sta' Playa campaign, which gives supporters of both Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs a chance to win a house.
Moloi continued: "Now since the stars are shining on us, I hope that star keeps shining on us the way it did in 1995. We played ASEC Mimosas at home and we went and beat them away to win the competition. But when we were in charge (in 2013), we played Al Ahly in Orlando and we went on to lose in Egypt. All the other South African teams that have lost in the final of the Confederation Cup or Champions League, the first leg had always been in South Africa."
Moloi has been impressed with the current generation of players, saying they are different from the group that won the double treble over 10 years ago.
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“In the past, I’ve always said that this is a special group. They are different from our treble team and our double treble team and the team that reached the final of the Champions League and Confed Cup. These are young boys who are still finding their feet, but they are bringing in trophies. I expected them to perform the way that they are performing this year. I have always said let’s not put them under pressure. Let them enjoy the fruits we left for them. Even after they lose, you see supporters singing. I always knew that there was something special about these boys.”
