Pirates get given a free Confederation Cup pass

Orlando Pirates have found themselves handed a free pass into the group stages of the Caf Confederation Cup, having only played the first leg of the play-offs in Liberia last weekend.

This is after Liberian outfit LPRC Oilers withdrew from playing the second leg, which was supposed to be held at Orlando Stadium tomorrow.

The Buccaneers were already heading into the return leg with one foot in the group stages, after the side won 2-0 in Liberia courtesy of goals from Tshegofatso Mabasa and Fortune Makaringe at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex.

Pirates were scheduled to have a press conference yesterday ahead of the tie against Oilers, but the club immediately cancelled in the morning to confirm Oilers’ withdrawal from the match.

The reason behind the withdrawal is yet to be known, but could be because of the new coronavirus variant Omicron, which has seen a rise in number of Covid infections in Gauteng.

“Kindly note we have been informed of the withdrawal of LPRC Oilers from the Caf Confederation Cup this season,” the Buccaneers announced.

Pirates, meanwhile, were going into this tie having played to a goalless draw with Baroka FC at the Orlando Stadium on Thursday, a result they were not proud of, having dominated most of the game.

The Soweto giants had their heads held high going into the Bakgaga clash, with the club recording two consecutive victories in all competitions, having also beaten Stellenbosch FC before their game against Oilers.

What co-coaches Fadlu Davids and Mandla Ncikazi will be happy about going into the rest of their fixtures is the team’s solid rear-guard, which has four clean sheets in their past four games.

Now that the side has concluded their passage into the group phase of the continental tournament, the focus for the rest of the year will be to climb up the log table, where two of their rivals Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs occupy first (30 points) and second (22points) spots respectively.

Pirates have six games before the Christmas break and next play AmaZulu at home on Wednesday.