After an exciting two weeks of the Fifa international break, domestic football could not have asked for a better return, as the CAF Champions League quarterfinal matches are set to get underway this week.
Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates will both be in action on Tuesday.
The Brazilians will host Tunisian giants and coach Miguel Cardoso’s former side, Esperance de Tunis, while the Buccaneers will travel to North Africa to face reigning Algerian champions MC Alger.
Pirates booked their ticket to the quarterfinals of the continental competition for the first time since 2013, when they lost in the final to Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
This season, under the tutelage of coach Jose Riveiro, the Sea Robbers finished their Group C on top ahead of Al Ahly. They were unbeaten with four wins and two draws.
Sundowns, on the other hand, advanced to the knockout stages of the competition after finishing their Group B as runners-up to AS FAR of Morocco.
After falling short in the semi-finals of the Champions League back-to-back under coach Rulani Mokwena, this could be the season where Sundowns will want to be third-time lucky and go all the way to the final of the competition and hopefully relive the 2016 moment.
“My fond memories of this competition were when we lifted it in 2016 with coach Pitso [Mosimane], when a lot of people didn’t believe and gave us a chance,” said Sundowns legend Hlompho Kekana, who was the captain of the team.
“We played very difficult matches, building up to the final and ultimately winning it. Also, winning the Champions League offers you an opportunity to go to the Club World Cup, so these are the moments the players play for.”
Pirates, on the other hand, last tasted Champions League glory in 1995 to become the first SA club to get a continental star.
Having already delivered a trophy in their cabinet so far and broken many records, the Sea Robbers will also be setting their sights on the elusive trophy, considering that this could be Riveiro’s last season at Pirates.
