Mamelodi Sundowns legend Hlompho Kekana says the CAF Champions League exit of Orlando Pirates is a blow to the development of the talented players within their ranks.
The 2016 Champions League winner is widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders of his generation and represented the national team at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
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Now retired, Kekana was speaking at the CAF inter-club competitions draw about the presence of Zambian clubs ZESCO United in the Confederation Cup and Power Dynamos in the Champions League, explaining how their qualification will be huge for the current crop of players in the domestic leagur.
“I like the Zambian [teams] they play like us; there’s many similarities in our football and the more they participate in these competitions [CAF inter-club], the more they got stronger in their league and with the players they develop,” Kekana said.
“I always say the Champions League and Confederation Cup will improve players and give you experience you will never get in any match you’re playing at home, not because they’re not at that level.
“It’s due to the teams that side having won their leagues, from their respective countries and of course the teams get better, players are exposed to different game models and get challenges.”
Kekana went on to reference the exit of Pirates, who fell short of the group stages to Linafoot side St Eloi Lupopo – who have now ironically been drawn alongside Masandawana in Group C – with Al Hilal Sudan and MC Alger.
“I was not happy that Orlando Pirates had to bow out the competition, simply because now – it doesn’t put our national team where we want to be as a country,” he continued.
“The more teams we have in the competition, the better for our national team, the better for the improvement of the players and I love that fact that when Ntate Broos chooses the team, he chooses the players with continental experience.
“That’s why we qualified for the World Cup – because of the local based players participating in these competitions. So, I do believe it’s a big blow we don’t have another team [in the Champions League.]”
Pirates reached the semi-final of the competition last season, while Sundowns fell in the final to winners Pyramids of the Egyptian Premier League.
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