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Key info on Pirates’ CAF opponents

Orlando Pirates have a game in the Indian Ocean Islands on Sunday to face an opponent that will be given little thought due to where they come from.

Pirates face SC Disciples at in Saint Pierre, Mauritius in the first leg of their first qualifying round of the CAF Champions League.

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Disciples have taken their game to the Stade de Cote d'Or due to the unavailability of CAF-approved stadiums in Madagascar.

KickOff was on a rare phone call to a contact in Madagascar on Thursday, where it was established that Disciples is a club born out of serial league winners CNaPS Sport, who are now defunct.

Almost half of the players in the Disciples squad were previously with CNaPS Sport, who won seven league titles since 2010, before they were dismantled.

Disciples – based in Antananarivo – was then born from there four years ago and are now making their debut appearance in the Champions League.

In winning the league, they got the equivalent of R81 000, and they are coached by Rija Juvence Rakotomandimby with Rajaonarivelo Hery, Rendry Mataniah and Andy Rakotondrajoa as their key players. 

Disciples are not considered amongst the big three in Madagascar, which has Elgeco Plus, Fosa Juniors, and CFFA.

Their domestic league is only due to start at the end of September or beginning of October since the Second Division season – organised by the Malagasy Football Federation – is still ongoing.

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With football in Madagascar not professional, it makes Pirates overwhelming favourites to win this round.

For all the times that Bucs have played continental club football, this is the first time that they are up against opponents from Madagascar.         

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