He chides them for not carrying their CAF form into the Absa Premiership, and he demands of them their best in the CAF Confederation Cup: “This generation should give their best to win it,” he says.
Lushozi was a hard – some would even say dirty – defender, but he is a gentle soul off the field, and for many years has taught kids with special needs. He knows what suffering is, and he will have little sympathy for ‘softies’ who do not know how to stand up and fight.
“The present team have a chance of winning, but there are certain things the coaching staff must tell these players. They can’t play well in Africa and then come back and lose matches in the PSL,” he says.
Today’s Buccaneers are to be applauded for going as far as they have in the Confederation Cup, but they owe it to their club, their chairman and their supporters to win it.
For Pirates, above all other South African clubs, have consistently treated CAF competition with respect and done their utmost to achieve continental success.
Make no mistake ... the job will be difficult.
Etoile du Sahel are perhaps not the side Asec Mimosa were in 1995, but they are no pushovers. Any team that beats Zamalek in a semi-final needs to be treated with respect.
Nine-times champions of Tunisia, they also hold a very special record: the Red Devils of Sousse are the only club to have won ALL of CAF’s major club competitions: the Champions League (in 2007), the Confederation Cup (2006), the Cup Winners’ Cup (1997, 2003), the CAF Cup (1995, 1999) and the Super Cup (1998, 2008).
They also boast one of the Confederation Cup’s leading scorers this year, a bulldozing striker called Baghdad Bounedjah.
Pirates will need all their undoubted ability and the attacking verve they showed in beating Kaizer Chiefs in the Premiership recently; all the guts that Lushozi calls for; and yes, some of the luck of Abidjan.
If that all comes together, then the Buccaneers can once more reign supreme.
It so very nearly did not come together for them 20 years ago. As explained in detail in the new edition, Helman Mkhalele scored a glorious opener in the first leg of the Champions Cup Final at Soccer City, combining with Jerry Sikhosana before curling the ball inside the far post.
But Asec fought back and the Bucs lost their heads. Two defensive errors, two goals conceded. Then captain Innocent Mncwango was sent off for a stamp. Not yet half-time and Pirates were down to 10 men and staring defeat in the face.
The indomitable Gavin Lane dragged them back into the tie with a 42nd-minute headed equaliser and they almost snatched a late winner when Marc Batchelor missed from close range at full stretch. But at 2-2, Pirates were written off before the second leg.
What followed was the legendary ‘miracle of Abidjan’, a story told and retold, of 11 men who faced down 27 shots at their goal, and held out to score the winner with one of only two chances.
May history repeat itself…
Richard Maguire
Editor
Get the latest edition of KICK OFF magazine for a full recount of that memorable 1995 CAF campaign, and also an update on where those heroes find themselves these days.
And for the Kaizer Chiefs fans, we also dedicate three pages to the amazing Operation Vat Alles campaign of 2001, including the Nelson Mandela Cup.
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