OWAYENGUKAPUTENI we-Orlando Pirates, uLucky “Phinda Mzala” Lekgwathi, ukholwa wukuthi sesifikile isikhathi sokuthi leli qembu lisinqobe isicoco seCaf Champions League, elagcina ukusiphakamisa eminyakeni engu-29 edlule.
Akangabazi ukuthi leli qembu linenqanawe yesikwati sabadlali beqophelo, abanamava nekhono lokudlisela izitha ogageni kube ncane indawo kwiChampions League, basibuyise ekhaya isicoco esihlonishwayo ebholeni lase-Afrika.
IPirates eyaqopha umlando ngokuba yiqembu lokuqala lase-Afrika eseNingizimu (Cosafa region) ukudla isicoco seChampions League ngo-1995, isizame amahlandla amaningi ukubuya nenkanyezi yesibili njengoba yafinyelela kowandulela owamanqamu ngo-2006, yaguqiswa yi-CS Sfaxien yaseTunisia.
Yaphinda yafinyelela komunye wamanqamu alo mqhudelwano ngo-2013, lapho yaguqiswa khona yi-Al Ahly yase-Egypt, iholwa nguLekgwathi owayengukaputeni ngaleso sikhathi.
“IPirates inesikwati esiqinile esinabadlali beqophelo kuzo zonke izindawo kusukela emuva kuya phambili, abanye babo abadlala kwiBafana Bafana okubanika amava adingekayo ekudlaleni imidlalo yeChampions League.
“Ngicabanga ukuthi ineqembu elingakwazi ukuwina iChampions League, sesikhathele manje ukulokhu sikhuluma ngePirates ka-1995, sesidinga enye inkanyezi.
“Laba badlali abakweleti kuphela usihlalo (Irvin Khoza), bakweleta abalandeli uqobo abahlale bebheke lukhulu kubona ngaso sonke isikhathi.
“Banethuba lokuhamba ibanga kulo mqhudelwano weChampions League, badinga nje ukuthatha umdlalo ngamunye baze bafinyelele lapho okufanele bafinyelele khona,” kusho uLekgwathi.
IPirates eyiqale ngesivuthevuthe imidlalo yesigaba samaqoqo eChampions League kuGroup C ngokubhaxabula i-CR Belouizdad yase-Algeria ngo 2-1 kowomlenze wokuqala ekuhambeni, ibambane ngo 0-0 ne-Al Ahly yase-Egypt, ngeledlule e-Orlando Stadium, eSoweto.
Izotholana phezulu neStade d’Abidjan yase-Ivory Coast, ekuhambeni kowomlenze wokuqala eFelix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, e-Abidjan, namuhla ngo-6 ntambama.
Le nkundla yase-Abidjan, iFelix Houphouet Boigny, inomlando ojulile kweZimnyama kwazise kukuyona le nkundla lapho kwaqopheka umlando idla isicoco seChampions League ngoDisemba 16, ka-1995 kowamanqamu iqumba phansi i-Asec Mimosas ngo 1-0 wegoli likaJerry “The Legs of Thunder” Sikhosana, elashiya kukhalwa kule nkundla eyayigcwele phama abalandeli beMimosas.