Orlando Pirates begin their CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE campaign with a tricky assignment first up as they to Bloemfontein to face reigning Lesotho champion LIOLLI at Free State Stadium today. Standing in their way first up this season is a relatively unknown quantity in continental football circle in the form of the men from the Mountain Kingdom. They pose a potential banana peel for the 1995 champion at a stage of the competition that has occassionally delivered some upsets.
While Liolli’s near-impenetrable defense forms the foundation of their success, they have been just as sharp up front, they avaraged just say of two goals per match in the 2024/25 league season. Inflicting massive defeats on the likes of Mzamene and ACE Maseru, Liolli trusted defence could frustrate the Soweto Gaints, while the width and speed provided by wingers such as Hlalifele Moqokola and Tholang Makuru will be a threat on the counter.
The Soweto Gaints kick things off in their first Preliminary Round of the prestigious tournament as they look to take another step. This is after an imprssive run last time out, when they made it all way to the semi-finals.
