CAF Confed Preview: Jwaneng Galaxy

13 February, 2021

Gaborone is the next stop for Orlando Pirates, who will be up against Botswana's reigning champions, Jwaneng Galaxy at the National Stadium on Sunday at 15:00.

The fixture is a CAF Confederation Cup playoff round, where victory over two legs guarantees a spot in the group stage of the competition.

It's a moment of déjà vu for the Buccaneers, who have to travel for the first leg once more, having done so in the previous preliminary round.

Josef Zinnbauer's men triumphed against Angola's Sagrada Esperança in Luanda, with a second-half goal from Thembinkosi Lorch the difference between the two sides.

The second leg did not take place after the Angolan outfit pulled out of the fixture, sending the Soweto Giants through to the playoff round.

Now lying in wait are the Botswana champs, who are fresh off two preliminary rounds in the CAF Champions League.

Jwaneng comfortably breezed past Zilimadjou from the Comoros in the first round before meeting their stop in the form of South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns.

Key Player

Ricardo Laurenco: A player who will have a lot to prove, having been part of the Orlando Pirates Multichoice Diski Challenge and Project X squads. The 25-year-old has an educated left foot and is very good at playing in the pockets. Lourenco captained the Buccaneers MDC side in 2018.

Sede Junior Dion: A hard running forward in the mould of Thamsanqa Gabuza. He is good at harassing the opposition defence and despite being played up front as a lone striker, the 22-year-old has an engine that helps him maintain the same intensity throughout the match.