Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa is confident his team will overcome Jwaneng Galaxy in the CAF Champions League, dismissing last year’s defeat as a thing of the past.

Pirates were eliminated by the same Botswana side in a penalty shootout in the second preliminary round of the Champions League last season.

However, they have been drawn against Galaxy once again in the same round. The first leg is set for Saturday (16:00) at the National Stadium in Gaborone, and the return leg will take place at Orlando Stadium a week later.

Mabasa expressed his team’s motivation for the match, stating, “A lot of people have been talking about Jwaneng game and what happened last season,” said Mabasa. 

“But this is a new season, this is a new Orlando Pirates, one that manages to create a lot of chances and take chances. 

“Going to the game, we are very motivated because, like I have always said before, this club deserves to play in the Champions League each and every season.  

“Not only playing there, but to compete and that is exactly what we are going there to do this coming weekend. It will be a difficult encounter, but we are well prepared for it.”  

The winner of this tie will qualify for the group stages.

Mabasa has a personal connection to Galaxy’s coach, Morena Ramoreboli, having worked with him at Bloemfontein Celtic in the DStv Diski Challenge and at Bafana B in the COSAFA Cup last year.

While Ramoreboli may know Mabasa and other Pirates players, Mabasa believes he has evolved as a player since their previous encounters.

“I had an opportunity to work with coach Morena from the development at Celtic and the COSAFA team last year,” said Mabasa, who scored when Pirates beat Cape Town City in the second leg semi-final of the MTN8.

“He is a coach I know quite well and obviously he knows me as a player. But this is a completely different phase, I have grown as a player, there is a lot more tactics involved. 

“So, the game won’t be the way that he expects it to be. You can study all you want, but what happens on the day it is entirely up to the players themselves and tactics on the day. So, we are not worried about that (that he knows some of the players), we will go out there and give our all.”