Orlando Pirates could well have been left shaking in their boots or delighted at the opportunity to exact revenge following Thursday’s CAF Champions League draw in Cairo.
The Buccaneers are likely to face up to their conquerors Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana in the second round of the premier continental club competition.
Galaxy sent Jose Riveiro and his team packing from the competition at the same stage last year, the less fancied team that was coached by Morena Ramoreboli registering a shock 5-4 shootout victory following a 1-1 stalemate over two legs.
Pirates, distant runners-up to Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2023/24 DSTV Premieeship season to book their Champioms League spot, have been drawn to play Madagascar champions Disciples in the first round.
Should they overcome the Indian Ocean Islanders as expected, the Bucs will meet the winner of the clash between Galaxy and Namibia's African Stars.
It will make for an intriguing clash, with Pirates sure to feel revenge is a dish beat served cold while Galaxy would be cock-a-hoop believing they can repeat the dose.
With this edition marking the 30th anniversary of Pirates’ solitary victory in the competition, there can be no denyibg that failure to reach the group stages is not an option.
Meanwhile domestic champions Mamelodi Sundowns, semifinalists in the past two seasons, received a first round bye and will have to beat the winmer of the clash between Mbabane Swallows of Eswatini and Mozambique’s Ferroviario Beira to earn a group stage berth.
In th CAF Confederation Cup, debutants Stellenbosch FC drew Eswatini’s Nsingizini Hotspurs while Sekhukhune United’s decent group showing from the previous campaign earned them a first round bye.
Ba Bina Noko will face the winner of the clash between Madagascar’s
Elgeco Plus and Lunda Sul of Angola in the second round.
First round matches will be played over the weekends of August 16 to 18 and 23-25 with the second round ties scheduled for September 13-15 and 20-22.