Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi believes Orlando Pirates should be proud of their CAF Champions League campaign despite falling short of reaching the final when they were beaten by Pyramids FC.
Image: Malibongwe Mdletshe, Independent Newspapers
Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi believes Orlando Pirates should be proud of their CAF Champions League campaign despite falling short of reaching the final when they were beaten by Pyramids FC.
Pirates suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to Egyptian side Pyramids FC at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Friday night, ending their dream of reaching the final.
After a goalless first leg at Orlando Stadium, the return fixture delivered an intense five-goal thriller, but it was the hosts who came out on top. While the Rainbow nation missed out on a historic all-South African final – with Mamelodi Sundowns securing their place after seeing off defending champions Al Alhy – Mngqithi, who spent several successful years with Sundowns and won the competition in 2016, believes Pirates should be applauded for their campaign.
“They didn’t even need to get to the final, as South Africans we should just be proud of how much improvement South African football has had in the past few years,” he said.
“And to see Pirates back and going as far as they went, to me, that was very positive. Sometimes we forget that maybe in the previous season they could not even make the quarter-final, but when you see them go as far as they did, you should be proud and see that the PSL has improved in leaps and bounds.”
Mngqithi’s praise comes with context. Pirates, after reaching the final in the 2012/13 season, struggled for consistency in continental competition for years. They qualified for the Champions League just three times over the following 12 years.
Under the guidance of Jose Riveiro, however, they have now made consecutive appearances in Africa’s premier club tournament and reached their first semi-final in over a decade.
The Arrows mentor also pointed to a broader link between the national team’s recent successes and the improved performances of local clubs.
“And maybe also take time to appreciate the work the national team has done because I think with the national team doing well, these teams and these players are forced to give their A-game to their teams to make sure they fight to stay in the national team,” he said.
“Those two things normally work hand in hand and personally I’m just a proud South African because also if you look at Stellenbosch, they are in the semi-finals (at the time of publication) and they are strong.”
As South African football continues to gain momentum, Mngqithi’s sentiments highlight the progress being made.
While Pirates’ journey in this year’s Champions League ended in heartbreak, it also served as a testament to the growth of the domestic game – a point of pride rather than disappointment. The Buccaneers will need to re-focus pretty quickly with a lot to play for on the domestic front as they continue to chase down Sundowns for the Betway Premiership title.
Pirates also have a small matter of playing their arch-rivals for the 2025 Nedbank Cup title in their final on the 10th of May with a league Soweto Derby to take place on May 3.