Chiefs urged to channel Pirates’ fearlessness

IF THERE was a South African team that made a mockery of “North African hostility” in continental football last season, it was Orlando Pirates.

- MIHLALI BALEKA

In four visits to the northern hemisphere of the continent — Algeria and Egypt twice each — Pirates returned home with three wins (two in the group stage and one in the quarterfinal) and just one loss in the semifinal.

Sure, it may be argued that they lost the most important tie — the 3-2 aggregate defeat to Pyramids in Cairo — but the Buccaneers certainly held their own, almost proving that the days when southern teams feared their northern counterparts are long gone.

So, as Kaizer Chiefs return to continental group-stage football via the CAF Confederation Cup — for the first time since reaching the Champions League final in 2020 — they can take a leaf out of their arch-rivals Pirates’ book and be fearless against North African opponents.

Chiefs are in Group D, alongside the Egyptian duo Al Masry and Zamalek, and Zambian side Zesco United. Zamalek are the group favourites, followed by their compatriots Al Masry. But again, Chiefs cannot be deterred by those predictions. They need to hold their own, starting in the opener against the latter next Sunday at a venue and kickoff time yet to be announced.