Playing in Africa has helped build Pirates – Davids

Orlando Pirates co-caretaker coach Fadlu Davids believes playing in the Caf Confederation Cup last season has built the players mentality at the club. But has it?

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Pirates finished last year’s Confed Cup in the quarterfinals, after playing to a 1-1 draw with Raja Casablanca in the first leg staged at the Orlando Stadium, before they were thrashed 4-0 during the return match in Morocco, which saw their journey in the tournament come to an end.

But, Pirates still seem to be missing one thing, which is consistency with the club having won two consecutive games prior to their 2-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns.

Davids further says that playing in the continental competition has helped improve the level of play at Sundowns, who have become very difficult for Pirates to beat in the past few seasons.  

“It comes with time playing together (with Downs) in Africa, having these tight games where one moment is going to win it and that’s where Mamelodi Sundowns have the edge now, to be able to take their chances. Even when they don’t play at full throttle, they will get those two, three moments (goal scoring chances) in the game and they will convert,” Davids said.

 “Last season getting into the quarter-finals against Raja Casablanca playing to a draw at home then losing away, those moments helped the players to build their mental state and you grow as a team. We are learning from Caf where you play under difficult conditions.”

But, before thinking about Africa too much, Davids and his charges have a lot of work to do with an interesting DStv Premiership clash against Cape Town City coming-up on Saturday away from home.

Pirates go into this match with Downs loss certainly still fresh in everyone’s mind at the club, while the Mother City based outfit will be high on confidence after their impressive 4-0 victory against Swallows in the second leg of the MTN8.

The Soweto giants, who are in fourth place on the league standings with eight points, will be looking to close the five point gap between them and top of the table side Sundowns, who are on 13 points after the fifth round of matches this campaign.

After the Cape City game, Pirates will then have to wait after the international break to start with their campaign in the Confed Cup where they play Diables Noirs from Congo Brazzaville on 15 October away from home.