Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi has hailed the progress Orlando Pirates made in the CAF Champions League this season, saying the improvement of Bafana Bafana has played a crucial role.
The Buccaneers missed out on qualifying for the final after losing the second leg at Pyramids 3-2, while Mamelodi Sundowns eliminated record champions Al Ahly from the competition.
Despite Pirates missing out on making it an all-South African final, Mngqithi insisted the Buccaneers should be proud at their exploits in Africa this season.
“I wouldn’t even want to go to the last stage of a South African final,” he said after his side’s 1-0 defeat to AmaZulu, as per Ayanda Nyuswa.
“Personally, I think we should just be proud of how much impact and improvement South African football has had in the past few years.
“Seeing Pirates back in the Champions League and go as far as they went, for me was very positive. Sometimes we forget the previous season they could not even come out of the group or make the quarterfinals.
“When you see them going as far as they did, you should be very proud and see that the PSL has improved in leaps and bounds.
“And maybe also take some time to appreciate the work that the national team has done because I think with the national team doing well, these players are forced to give an A-game in their games to try and make sure that they fight to stay in the national team. Those things normally work hand in hand.”
Mngqithi also praised the CAF campaign of Stellenbosch, who upset all the odds and went to the semi-final in their first ever CAF interclub campaign.
“Personally, I’m just a proud South African and the impact South Africa is making – look at Stellenbosch, who would’ve thought that Stellenbosch would be in the semi-final of the Confederations Cup, and they are there, they are strong. For me that’s the positive we should take as a country,” he concluded.
