TFGSoccerClub takes a look at the five things learned from Orlando Pirates’ thumping of Light Stars in their Caf Champions League opener.
5) Bucs unbeaten run continues
The Buccaneers came into this encounter full of confidence after claiming the bragging rights when they defeated their Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the Telkom Knockout semi-final last weekend.
They continued to show their dominance across all competitions after claiming a 5-1 victory over Light Stars of Seychelles in their preliminary round of the Caf Champions League.
The win has now seen Pirates extend their unbeaten run to 12 games, having last conceded a defeat on 19 August when they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Bloemfontein Celtic in the Absa Premiership.
4) Long-awaited return
Following their five-year absence, the 2013 finalists celebrated their long-awaited return to continental football in style when they managed to fire five goals past the Seychelles outfit at the Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The Buccaneers remain one of only two South African teams, Mamelodi Sundowns being the other team, to lift the Caf Champions League, albeit having last played in the tournament in 2013 following a magical run that ended in a 3-1 defeat to Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the final.
3) Squad depth at Pirates
Serbian coach Milutin Sredojevic made nine changes to the team that faced Amakhosi, with the experienced Mpho Makola captaining the team in the absence of Happy Jele.
Marcelo Da Silva, Abbubaker Mobara, Paseka Mako, Linda Mntambo, Meshack Maphangule, Augustine Mulenga, Thabo Qalinge, Kudakwashe Mahachi were all handed starting berths, which afforded Sredojevic to rest a number of key players, including Vincent Pule, Musa Nyatama, Xola Mlambo, Alfred Ndengane, Innocent Maela and Asavela Mbekile.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane and midfielder Marshall Munetsi were the only two players to keep their place in the squad.
2) Not short on scoring options
With Bucs in-form forward Vincent Pule rested from their match day squad and Thembinkosi Lorch reduced to the bench, the Buccaneers looked a different side in front of goal from their regular attacking force.
Although they were missing a number of key players, the likes of Qalinge, Mulenga, Makola, Shonga and Mntambo stepped up and put in a commanding display to help Pirates secure their biggest winning margin this season.
1) Zambian duo Shonga and Mulenga
The Zambian strikers are slowly establishing themselves Pirates’ key players, having cemented their place in the team’s starting lineup as the Milutin Sredojevic’s side look to beat Mamelodi Sundowns to this season’s PSL title.
Shonga, who joined the Buccaneers from Zambian Super League outfit Nkwazi in September, has already impressed in this campaign by bagging four goals (two from direct free kicks) from 17 appearances, while his countryman Mulenga has scored as many goals, having featured 13 times in all competitions.
Although the hype around Mulenga and Shonga pairing up has slowly started to disappear, the duo stretched their legs and proved their worth in the famous Pirates jersey during their exploits in the Champions League.
Should a partnership bear fruit for Pirates, Micho will surely have an idea how to utilise the pair in his starting lineup as they continue in their search for silverware to end their four-year trophy drought.
Photo: Backpagepix
