Orlando Pirates fans are dreaming big, and for good reason. The Buccaneers headed into the AFCON break sitting top of the Betway Premiership table.
The experienced mentor praised the Buccaneers for closing a long-standing gap at the top of South African football. However, De Sa believes the real test still lies ahead.
ROGER DE SA IMPRESSED BY ORLANDO PIRATES
De Sa’s comments also draw from his own experience at the Buccaneers, where he coached the club from September 2012 to January 2014.
During that period, the club reached the 2013 CAF Champions League final, a notable achievement that inspired the ambitions of South African clubs in CAF interclub competitions.
His time in charge also included several cup final defeats, including the Champions League final loss to Al Ahly and domestic defeats in the MTN8 and Telkom Knockout to Platinum Stars.
De Sa later resigned, having overseen a period that delivered continental progress but fell short in major finals.
According to De Sa, the Sea Robbers have a glorious squad with depth and quality, yet there is no superstar status among the players.
“They’ve definitely closed that gap that used to be between Sundowns and the rest of the clubs,” De Sa said. “That’s good for the game, and it’s great to see.”
“What’s really impressed me is the squad depth,” he explained. “They’ve got young players coming through who keep performing,” the former Orlando Pirates coach added.
“There are no real superstars,” he said. “It’s a well-organised team, they play attacking football, they look to score goals, and they believe.”
WARNING: MAMELODI SUNDOWNS REMAIN POWERFUL
Despite Orlando Pirates’ strong run, De Sa cautioned against overlooking the champions. He has stressed that Mamelodi Sundowns remain a major force in the title race.
“You’ve got to be wary of Sundowns still,” he warned. “They have a fantastic squad as well. But the fact that Pirates are putting them under pressure is good for the league,” De Sa concluded.