Pirates legend: We won't survive in the CAF Champions League if…

An Orlando Pirates legend has suggested a major challenge the club has to address going back to the CAF Champions League next season.

Pirates will be back as one of the two representatives in the CAF Champions League, after they finished the 2025/26 campaign as Betway Premiership champions.

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The Buccaneers will be looking to banish the haunting memories of being bundled out of the CAF Champions preliminary stages, from controversial circumstances, after they fought back from a 3-0 defeat in the first-leg against Saint Eloi Lupopo and won the second-leg by the same scoreline on home soil but suffered a penalty shoot-out defeat and elimination.

Ezimnyama could be under pressure to do well in the continent's premier club tournament, after local rivals Mamelodi Sundowns were crowned champions for the second time in this past season.

Speaking to Kickoff.com, former Pirates midfielder Thapelo Liau has suggested that his former side would need to get experience in the market during the off-season, if they want to compete in Africa.

"They must reinforce, CAF Champions League needs experience, they have to mix those boys with experience. You can't go to the Champions League with boys that are so young," Liau said.

"They must get experience, especially at the back. Get a striker that you know for sure. Check the squad of Sundowns, it is balanced, it has experience and young players, it's a good mixture.

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"But if you go to CAF with players even from (DStv Diski Challenge) DDC, players who lack even PSL experience, then you won't survive (in the CAF). Maybe get four or so experienced players," Liau suggested.

Pirates' most experienced players in terms of age are Makhehlene Makhaula (36), Deon Hotto (35), Thabiso Lebitso (34), Sihle Nduli (30), Tapelo Xoki (31) and Nkosinathi Sibisi (30).