THE renovation of Botswana's National Stadium for the 2010 World Cup has forced the African Champions League match between Gaborone United and Orlando Pirates on Saturday to be moved to OB Stadium.
THE renovation of Botswana's National Stadium for the 2010 World Cup has forced the African Champions League match between Gaborone United and Orlando Pirates on Saturday to be moved to OB Stadium.
This is the first round of the African Champions League and Pirates look set to overcome their Botswana opponents in front of their home crowd. The second leg will be played in South Africa in two weeks' time.
OB Stadium has a small capacity of 10000 and The Reds, as United are known, have decided to increase entrance fee to 50 pula (R55) to discourage more supporters from coming to the match.
"The match has generated a lot of interest in Botswana because Orlando Pirates have a huge following here. They are a big brand in Botswana," said United's general secretary Kagiso Sebele.
"We were going to have just over 30000 people coming to watch the match at the National Stadium, but the stadium is being upgraded for the 2010 World Cup.
"The government is hoping to get one of the World Cup teams using the National Stadium as a training base, it will also be one of legacy projects."
The Reds, whose defensive midfielder Ofentse "Size 10" Nato is doing duty for the Zebras, the senior national team, are still reeling from a 3-1 drubbing by Santos in their Premier League match on Sunday.
Nato will also be a key player for the Zebras in an African Nations Championship against the South African development soccer squad in March.
Sebele has issued a stern warning to Pirates, saying they must forget about going beyond the first round of this yearly continental club tournament.
"We have been watching Pirates in all their matches and we know exactly what to expect from them. They won't know what hit them on Saturday," he said.
Pirates leave for Gaborone on Thursday. Their administrative executive, Floyd "Jomo" Mbele, said their aim is to go all the way in the tournament.
Teko "The General" Modise, who was offered a new contract that expires in 2012 by Pirates in August last year, is among the players expected to help the Buccaneers do well in the competition.
Meanwhile, SuperSport United, with Daine Klate spearheading their attack, will be away to Mbabane Swallows in Swaziland in the same tournament, also on Saturday.
On the same day, but in Mauritius, Moroka Swallows play Pamplemousses in the CAF African Confederation Cup.
bucs game with gaborone moved
THE renovation of Botswana's National Stadium for the 2010 World Cup has forced the African Champions League match between Gaborone United and Orlando Pirates on Saturday to be moved to OB Stadium.
THE renovation of Botswana's National Stadium for the 2010 World Cup has forced the African Champions League match between Gaborone United and Orlando Pirates on Saturday to be moved to OB Stadium.
This is the first round of the African Champions League and Pirates look set to overcome their Botswana opponents in front of their home crowd. The second leg will be played in South Africa in two weeks' time.
OB Stadium has a small capacity of 10000 and The Reds, as United are known, have decided to increase entrance fee to 50 pula (R55) to discourage more supporters from coming to the match.
"The match has generated a lot of interest in Botswana because Orlando Pirates have a huge following here. They are a big brand in Botswana," said United's general secretary Kagiso Sebele.
"We were going to have just over 30000 people coming to watch the match at the National Stadium, but the stadium is being upgraded for the 2010 World Cup.
"The government is hoping to get one of the World Cup teams using the National Stadium as a training base, it will also be one of legacy projects."
The Reds, whose defensive midfielder Ofentse "Size 10" Nato is doing duty for the Zebras, the senior national team, are still reeling from a 3-1 drubbing by Santos in their Premier League match on Sunday.
Nato will also be a key player for the Zebras in an African Nations Championship against the South African development soccer squad in March.
Sebele has issued a stern warning to Pirates, saying they must forget about going beyond the first round of this yearly continental club tournament.
"We have been watching Pirates in all their matches and we know exactly what to expect from them. They won't know what hit them on Saturday," he said.
Pirates leave for Gaborone on Thursday. Their administrative executive, Floyd "Jomo" Mbele, said their aim is to go all the way in the tournament.
Teko "The General" Modise, who was offered a new contract that expires in 2012 by Pirates in August last year, is among the players expected to help the Buccaneers do well in the competition.
Meanwhile, SuperSport United, with Daine Klate spearheading their attack, will be away to Mbabane Swallows in Swaziland in the same tournament, also on Saturday.
On the same day, but in Mauritius, Moroka Swallows play Pamplemousses in the CAF African Confederation Cup.
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