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Pirates look back to 1995 for inspiration

BACK : Orlando Pirates winger Daine Klate returns after a long absence.
BACK : Orlando Pirates winger Daine Klate returns after a long absence.

Orlando Pirates hope to rekindle the memories of 1995, when they were continental champions, in their African Champions League opener against Angolan team Recreativo do Libolo in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

Buccaneers midfielder Daine Klate, with three seasons of Champions League football to his credit with previous club SuperSport United, said the journey ahead would pose a new challenge for the treble winners.

“Going into Africa is difficult. The opposition try to make it difficult for you,” Klate said.

“It starts at the airport — your baggage takes time to come, bags don’t arrive. They do all those tricks.

“We as a club have to be clever when it comes to those things.”   

Playing their opening match at home will give Pirates the early advantage in the two-leg fixture and Klate said Pirates had a national responsibility to get a positive result.

“I think it’s something the country has to stand up for and we have to go into other countries and start getting results,” he said.

“If we want Bafana to do well, to become a household name in Africa again, then this is where it starts.

“Pirates won the Champions League in ’95 and we [Bafana Bafana] ended up winning the Nations Cup in ’96.

“So it really does start at club level and when we go there we have to take it seriously.”   

Klate also spoke about his experiences with SuperSport and the lessons he learnt under current national coach Pitso Mosimane.

“When we were at SuperSport, under Pitso, we went into the group  stages where there was time wasting tactics, and when we came back with all those things we started winning cups,” Klate said.

“So there’s always something to learn from it. As much as it’s negative, you have to take it back home with you and give it back to them.”   

While Klate has significant experience at this level, he pointed  out that the Soweto giants had a number of quality players.

“We do have experienced players like Lucky [Lekgwathi] who knows  all about it. He’s been with Bafana, he’s been into Africa.

“As players everyone wants to do well, and I’m hoping personally  that I can not only help out with advice but on the field as well.”   

Klate said the natural progression for last season’s treble winners would be to add the Champions League crown to their crowded  trophy cabinet.

“After wrapping up all the trophies in the country, the next big  thing is going to be the Champions League for us,” he said.

“Luckily for me, it’s [Port Elizabeth] my hometown, so I hope I can give a big performance.”  

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