Buccaneers must first overcome Namibian champions African Stars

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has stressed his team’s intention of qualifying for the Caf Champions League group stages this season after falling short last year.

To make it through, Pirates need to overcome Namibian champions African Stars in the competition’s second preliminary round.

The first leg of the match-up is billed for Botswana National Stadium in Gaborone on Saturday (3pm), with the return leg at Orlando Arena on Friday October 23 (7.30pm).

Last season, Pirates were eliminated at the same stage by Congolese side FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo.

“It’s very important to come back with a positive result from Botswana,” Ouaddou said at the Carling Knockout Cup launch and draw in Fourways on Wednesday.

“It’s important that this year we get into the group stages. It’s a big, big target. We took a lesson from last season.”

Ouaddou said that as the Namibian league had not yet begun, it was difficult to source recent footage of Stars. “But we will get some. We have already started to study them and we have some information ... We have to go a little bit deeper going forward.”

The opening round of the Carling Knockout is scheduled to get under way on October 24. Defending champions Pirates have been pitted against rookies Milford at home.

The match dates and kick-off times will be confirmed by the league at a later stage.

Pirates have already faced Milford in the league this year, beating them 2-0 in the season opener at home in August.