Pirates’ CAF opponents play football as a hobby
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Pirates’ CAF opponents play football as a hobby
Aug 18, 2026 – 11:20 am
By Lovemore Moyo
Orlando Pirates’ first qualifying round opponents have been described as part-time footballers who stand no chance against the defending Betway Premiership champions.
Pirates have been drawn to play La Cure Waves SC from Port Louis in the first qualifying round of this season’s CAF Champions League.
The champions of Mauritius will be the second opponents from the Indian Ocean country that Bucs face in the history of the competition.
Back in 2006, they scored nine past AS Port-Louis 2000 over two legs in the first round.
In the away leg, Isaac Chansa, Lelo Mbele (2), Gift Leremi, and Joseph Makhanya were on target, while Tyren Arendse (2), Daniel ‘Sailor’ Tshabalala, and Davies Mwape scored in the second leg.
20 years later, the Soweto giants have another club to play from Mauritius.
“What I can assume is that they will have a hard time against Pirates,” Jean-Marc Ithier tells KickOff.
Ithier is the most identifiable Mauritian to ever play in the PSL, doing so with success after getting into double scoring figures five years in a row at Santos straight after arriving from the Indian Ocean island.
He joined The People’s Team at 34 but was still able to score 71 goals before he retired at 41 in 2006.
“Pirates are a step ahead as champions of the PSL, so they will be too much for La Cure Waves.
“Football in Mauritius doesn’t compare to the PSL at all and has dropped in recent years, and I don’t know when it will improve again.
“All the local players have day jobs in Mauritius, and they play football as a hobby.
“So, that is why I say Pirates will be favoured to proceed because they will be up against largely amateur opponents,” says Ithier.
Abdeslam Ouaddou’s charges will play the first leg away on September 5 before the home leg at Orlando Amstel Arena a week later.
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