Former Orlando Pirates assistant coach Tebogo Moloi says the club's senior players will need to prove their leadership qualities in the changeroom for them to continue doing well in the CAF Champions League.
Moloi was at the Pirates bench in 2013, serving as an assistant to then-head coach Roger de Sa when the Sea Robbers lost the Champions League two-legged final to Al Ahly.
"I remember in the semi-final away in Tunisia, we gave them our pre-match meal requirements, but instead they brought a buffet, I'm talking about a lunch fit for a King." Moloi told KickOff.com.
"But Andile Jali showed his leadership qualities when he took it upon himself to say, 'Hey gents, don't eat this food, these people didn't prepare our prematch accordingly, so what we going to do is to eat these long rolls [baguette] and drink Energades.'
"He then said to me and Roger, 'We will have these rolls and Energades.' we tried to explain to him that Ernegades were for half time, but his response was, 'Nah, at half time, we will drink water.'
"Remember, in prematch meals, you don't have to overload your stomach. For you to be able to compete and feel lighter, you will have to eat properly.
"How will you be able to run on the pitch if you had a starter, main course, and a dessert for a pre-match meal? So that's what the Tunisians gave us as a pre-match meal.
"Fortunately, these days, the club has dieticians who are part of the technical team; they understand what needs to be eaten for a pre-match meal.
"We had leadership in that team hence everyone understood Jali, Lucky Lekgwathi was the captain, Siyabonga Sangweni was a captain at Golden Arrows, Happy Jele, Rooi Mahamutsa was a captain in his previous clubs, and Daine Klate with his experience, Oupa Manyisa and Sifiso Myeni were also there.
"I believe the current Pirates team have plenty of leaders, look at how Thalente Mbatha quickly fitted in at Bafana Bafana.
"Tito Maswanganyi, everybody was saying 'nywee nywee nywee' about his inclusion in the Bafana Bafana team, but what did he do recently, he scored goals for Bafana."Let's not forget Deon Hotto for what he does for his country and Olisa Ndah for what he dies for his country; these are leaders. This Pirates team is a special breed and a special team.
"They all have what it takes to compete, anything is possible in football."