Bucs Out! Champions League Exit Hits Pirates Hard!
Orlando Pirates' dream of Champions League glory has been crushed, and the financial repercussions are significant. After a stunning defeat to St Eloi Lupopo, the Buccaneers face a potential loss of US$600,000, which translates to a staggering R10.4 million! This is a massive blow to the club's finances.
Pirates needed to overturn a 3-0 deficit from the first leg against the Congolese side. While they fought bravely at Orlando Stadium, leveling the tie on aggregate, they ultimately succumbed in a penalty shootout. The loss means they miss out on the lucrative group stage of the Champions League.
Reaching the group stage guarantees a minimum prize money of $700,000, with the winner taking home a cool $4 million. Furthermore, a successful campaign would have opened the door to the Club World Cup in 2029. Now, Pirates will only receive $100,000 for their participation, barely enough to cover their expenses for the preliminary rounds, including the costly chartered flight to Lubumbashi.
Lupopo coach, Guy Bukasa, revealed their strategy for maintaining composure amidst the Pirates' comeback. He emphasized the importance of emotional control. "I think yesterday (Friday) I said that the key of the game will be emotion management," he stated. "I think that is where we were strong today, we managed well our emotions because we suffered too much."
Bukasa added that he instructed his players to remain calm even after conceding the third goal. "We accepted to suffer. And when we conceded the third goal, I told my guys, now we have just to keep quiet. We don't have any pressure," he explained. "Orlando is a bigger team than us. If we are not qualified, there is no problem. If they are not qualified, there is a problem. So they have to be under pressure, not us. That's the reason why you see that we remained calm during the penalty kicks."
This early exit is a harsh lesson for Pirates, highlighting the competitive nature of African club football and the significant financial rewards that come with success.