ORLANDO Pirates believe the eight-week break will allow them time to prepare for the African Champions League.

They have drawn Djabal, champions of the Comoros Islands, in the preliminary round of the Champions League. The first leg will be played in South Africa on February 16 or 17 with the return leg on March 2 or 3.

With Pirates expected to hammer Djabal, they will meet either Zanaco of Zambia or Swaziland's Mbabane Swallows in the first round.

In the second round, the winner will meet four-time African Champions League champions TP Mazembe of DR Congo.

Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi promised that his team will not repeat the mistake that saw them eliminated in the preliminary round early this year. They were beaten by Angola's Recreativo do Lobolo. Pirates are the only southern African side to have won the Champions League (in 1995).

"We don't know much about Djabal. There is no doubt we will beat them with an avalanche of goals, but we will not underestimate them," said Lekgwathi.

"When we reached the semifinals of the Champions League in 2006, we started the preliminaries with a team from the Indian Ocean island (AS Port Louis 2000).

"I hope starting with a team from the Indian Ocean island again, we will do well, this time go all the way to the final and win it. We will be more prepared this time round for the Champions League campaign.

"After winning the double treble, our chairman Dr Irvin Khoza urged us to reclaim the Champions League.."

• Khoza, meanwhile, has been appointed special adviser to CAF for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

• SuperSport United were pitted against DRC's Don Bosco in the CAF Confederation Cup, also in February. Matsatsantsa a Pitori qualified for the tournament after winning the Nedbank Cup after their win over Mamelodi Sundowns.