Johannesburg – A lot has been made of the inspiration Orlando Pirates can draw from the club’s triumphant Champions Cup of 1995.
Just about everyone has used that incredible 1-0 victory over Asec Abidjan (now Asec Mimosas) as a point of reference that should come in handy as coach Eric Tinkler and his team attempt to capture the Caf Confederation Cup in Tunisia today.
And perhaps rightly so given that the Buccaneers overcame a first leg result (2-2 in their own backyard) that would ordinarily end a tie as a contest.
That much was evidenced by the Ivory Coast declaring the Monday after that December weekend a holiday in anticipation of celebrating ASEC being crowned African champions.
Surely no one needs reminding of the mourning that took place in the Ivorian capital after Jerry Sikhosana’s strike gave Pirates victory.
Yet, while that momentous occasion should be the driving force behind the Bucs as they take on Etoile du Sahel in the second leg clash of the continent’s second tier club competition in Sousse today (4pm SA time), this Pirates side have their own source to look at for motivation.
Assistant coach Teboho Moloi has shared some insight that indicates the kind of warriors he and Tinkler are leading.
“I knew we would do well in this competition from the very first match we played,” Moloi said before Pirates departed for Tunisia via Dubai.
“When we played URA (Uganda Revenue Authority) in the first leg and we found ourselves 1-0 down at half-time, Lennox Bacela and Oupa Manyisa literally took charge of the team talk and reminded their teammates of how we have previously played in the Champions League final and that we were too good a team to lose to URA.
“That to me showed the high calibre of team we were leading. I knew then we had a bunch of soldiers who would stop at nothing to go all the way.”
Pirates went on to overcome URA 4-3 on aggregate.
It was in that very match that another player’s comment gave Moloi confidence.
“Out of all the players, it was the youngest of them all who said what I found to be very inspirational. Brighton Mhlongo stood up and said to the guys, ‘champions are made of sterner stuff, and we have that’.
“That day I realised we would get to the ultimate stage.”
They have reached the final, but to capture the title Pirates will need to beat Etoile or hold them to a draw of more than one goal.
It is a feat that will require Bucs to do something Moloi feels they only did once in the campaign – play consistently well for the entire 90 minutes.
“We have generally had a lack of concentration problems in this tournament,” Moloi lamented.
“If you look at our matches, you will realise the goals we conceded were not because we were poor or outplayed or outwitted. It was just a split second lapse that let us down.”
This was exactly the case last weekend at Orlando Stadium when the Buccaneers gifted Etoile the goal that has given the Tunisian outfit the advantage going into this afternoon’s match.
But Moloi says Bucs have a match with another Tunisian side to look at for inspiration.
“The only game I can say we played for the entire 90 minutes was when we played Sfaxien in Tunisia,” he said.
“Even Thabo’s (Rakhale) goal was spot on in its execution and all the positive components were there.
“The boys played with the freedom you expect from South African players, they were switched on in all departments, whether we had the ball or chasing it.
“So I know from that game that we have it in us to concentrate for 90 minutes.”
And that is exactly what they will have to do in Sousse today.
That achieved, they – and not the Class of ’95 – will be used as a benchmark for future Pirates, if not South African sides participating in continental club competitions.
– THE SUNDAY INDEPENDENT