Sport and Recreation Department last night confirmed it has rewarded CAF Confederation Cup finalists Orlando Pirates for their excellent run this year as part of the ministerial excellence and recognition award.

"I can confirm that Orlando Pirates are the recipient of the ministerial award for their excellence this year," the department's media liaison officer Esethu Hasane told Sowetan last night.

"Pirates performed well this year and they deserve the recognition. But it's not all about them reaching the final of the Confederation Cup. Remember that the minister [Fikile Mbalula] recognised individual athletes, federations, schools and sports projects for their excellence during the SA Sports Awards on November 22.

"At that time we did not even know whether Pirates would will win or lose the final of this CAF competition."

While Hasane confirmed that the Buccaneers were rewarded financially, he would not reveal the sum.

The department's chief director of communications and marketing, Mickey Modisane, had said Mbalula would hand each Bucs player R30000 for their efforts.

Modisane, a former Pirates' spokesman, revealed this during Bucs' arrival from Tunisia at the OR Tambo International Airport yesterday. Pirates were arriving from Sousse, where they lost to Etoile Sahel in the final on Sunday. But Mbalula soon took to Twitter to quickly call his spokesman to order, saying Modise was not mandated to go to the airport or speak on his behalf.