Orlando Stadium ready to cook: Pirates v Saint Eloi Lupopo in a sold-out showdown
Orlando Pirates will play in front of a sellout home crowd at Orlando Stadium as they aim for a comeback against Saint Eloi Lupopo in the Caf Champions League after a 3-0 first-leg loss. Picture: Itumeleng English/Independent Meida
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Meida
Just over an hour before kick-off in their Caf Champions League match against Saint Eloi Lupopo at Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Orlando Pirates confirmed that tickets for the match had been sold out for the clash.
It’s indeed a stellar turnout for Pirates at their 37,000-capacity stadium, as they will need all the help they can get.
The Buccaneers come into the match off the back of their crushing 3-0 first-leg qualifying round loss to Saint Eloi Lupopo in the Caf Champions League last week. That defeat broke a string of wins across all competitions for Pirates.
In fact, that defeat for Pirates came despite the presence of Oswin Appollis, Thalente Mbatha, and Evidence Makgopa, who were all three goal-scorers in Bafana Bafana’s final Fifa World Cup qualifier match which booked their ticket to the quadrennial showpiece event next year.
Pirates Aim for Comeback Against Congolese Opposition in African Competition
Though Pirates collected a 1-0 win over Polokwane City in the Betway Premiership in midweek, they would want to avoid exiting the African competition at such an early stage.
Against their Congolese opposition though, Pirates will have no choice but to bang in three unanswered goals just to get back on level terms and that could be a mountain to climb for the Soweto Giants.
There is a genuine belief though that under coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, Pirates could have the firepower to get the job done.
That trio of Bafana players in particular will want to redeem themselves if their side is to play any further part of the competition after this weekend.