Johannesburg - Orlando Pirates might be returning home today with only a silver medal and just over R6 million to show for their efforts in the CAF Confederation Cup, but there is a lot that the club gained which they can’t quantify in terms of money and medals.
The Buccaneers managed to hold their own against some of the best on the continent – Al-Ahly, Zamalek, AC Leopards and CS Sfaxien – before going down to Tunisian giants étoile du Sahel on Sunday. A lot of players grew in the process. We look at three Pirates players who gained valuable experience from the Soweto giants’ African sojourn.
Thamsanqa Gabuza
Before this tournament, Gabuza was a figure of ridicule, having played just two full matches for the Sea Robbers since joining them from Golden Arrows three seasons ago. But at the end of this competition, the bulldozing centre forward had his name mentioned among the best strikers on the continent. Gabuza finished as joint-top goal-scorer with Sahel’s Baghdad Bounedjah and CF Mounana’s Georges Ambourouet. His physique, height and speed proved important for the Buccaneers, especially on the road where they played in tough conditions.
Gabuza gained plenty of confidence in the process, going on to score four goals for Bafana Bafana and one in the PSL. In total, Gabuza has found the back of the net 11 times this year. This is the first time he has reached double figures in his career. Having had the last laugh, the 28-year-old can now push on to better things.
Thabo Rakhale
Rakhale’s inexperience and naïvety was exposed by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) in March during Pirates’ 2-1 win at Orlando Stadium in the first round of the tournament.
The skilful midfielder carelessly lost the ball when Pirates were cruising 2-0 up, allowing URA to score in optional time what could have been a crucial goal, with the match ending 4-3 on aggregate to the Buccaneers’ favour. Pirates coach Eric Tinkler wasn’t impressed.
“The only way you can cure it (silly mistakes) is by players getting the experience,” Tinkler said after the match.
“Sometimes you have to make mistakes in order to learn from them. This was Rakhale’s first time playing at this level and what’s important is that he learns from this mistake and get better.”
Rakhale did just that, and in July showed how much he had learnt when he took on CS Sfaxien in Sfax. The 25-year-old didn’t just score an audacious chip to win the match, he also kept then Sfaxien captain Ali Maaloul quiet.
Rakhale grew from just a ball juggler to a smarter player who contributes in attack and in defence.
Brighton Mhlongo
The goalkeeper might have been on the bench in the two legs of the final, but he played a key role in helping the club get to the group stage.
He kept four clean sheets in the tournament before he tore his ACL in August in the first match of the PSL campaign.
It was a huge blow for the 24-year-old who had finally stepped out of his shell and was starting to move out of the shadow of Senzo Meyiwa since he replaced the late Pirates and Bafana gloveman.
The arrival of Equatorial Guinea’s shot-stopper Felipe Ovono confirmed that Pirates were playing Mhlongo not because they didn’t have a choice, but because he was the club’s rightful No 1.
That grew his confidence and he gained a lot belief in himself as he looked to make his name on the continent, like his late mentor and friend Meyiwa did in the 2013 CAF Champions League. - Cape Times