Orlando Pirates have revealed why they chose Zambia as their preferred destination for the second phase of their pre-season preparations ahead of the 2018-19 Absa Premiership campaign.
The Soweto giants embarked on a week-long training camp in Nelspruit in Mpumalanga with the team being taken through their paces by strength and conditioning coach.
ALSO READ: Pirates players who could face the axe (part 1)
☠Bucs off to Nelspruit for Pre-Season
💻https://t.co/8L6o2HCYII
⚫⚪🔴⭐#OnceAlwayspic.twitter.com/5OSNCY6FMU— Orlando Pirates FC (@orlandopirates) July 2, 2018
Pirates’ Administrative Officer Floyd Mbele cited the club’s participation in the CAF Champions League as a factor behind them setting in Zambia.
ALSO READ: Pirates release Van Heerden
‘The reason why we chose Zambia is that we wanted the new players who have never played beyond the borders of South Africa to get a feel of what it’s like to play in a different country,’ Mbele said.
‘Also Zambia feels much like South Africa. They have a similar topography and similar weather conditions so our players will get the feel (for) playing in a foreign country but still have that sense of familiarity of home.
ALSO READ: 5 Pirates players who could face the axe (part 2)
‘It important that our new players adapt to playing in other African countries as we really want to compete effectively in the CAF Champions League.
ALSO READ: Signing Billiat was easy – Motaung
‘It’s important that our coaches should be able to rely on all the players both old and new and that’s why we are ensuring that all our players are part of this trip,’ he concluded.
Pirates are set to take part in a number of friendly matches against Zambian opposition before returning to South African shores prior to the start of the league PSL campaign, which is set to commence in the first week of August.
