Innocent Maela has responded to comparisons between Pirates' 2021/22 squad that reached the final of the CAF Confederatiion Cup and the current one vying for a spot in this year's final of the CAF Champions League.
Pirates confirmed qualification into the Champions League semi-finals after holding out for a 0-0 against MC Alger in the second leg of the quarterfinals having won the first leg 1-0.
In doing so, Jose Riveiro's men have become the first Buccaneers team to make it to this stage of the prestigious competition since 2013 when they eventually lost to Al Ahly in the final.
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Should they get past Pyramids FC in the two-legged semis on the weekends of April 18-19 and April 25-26, they will become the first Pirates team to reach the final of a continental competition since 2021/22 when they lost to Moroccan side RS Berkane in the final of the CAF Confederation Cup on penalties.
Maela, who was part of that team alongside Deon Hotto, Goodman Mosele, Bandile Shandu, Olisa Ndah, Kabelo Dlamini and Tshegofatso Mabasa, believes it is unfair to compare.
"Like I always say when I answer that question, I think it's a bit unfair because there are only about three or four players left from the squad that went and played the final.
"But look, we are a team that believes we are more than capable of winning. We believe in ourselves, we believe in the team.
"But yes, the togetherness, the humbleness has brought us so far, and those are the values that we keep within the team.
"As long as we believe in what we do on a daily basis, so it's for us to go out there and execute.
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"But I think it's a bit unfair to compare the two sides because not a lot of players are still here from that squad. So, it is a new squad, a new dawn and as long as we believe, anything is possible," he added.
Pirates will host the first leg at Orlando with the exact date yet to be confirmed.
