Lucky Lekgwathi Raises Concerns As Pirates and Sundowns Head to Europe

• Lucky Lekgwathi believes that Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns should tour Africa during pre-season
• Pirates will head off to Spain to take on Israeli, Ecuadorian, and Spanish sides as part of their preparations
• DStv Premiership champions Sundowns will travel to the Netherlands to face second-division side, NAC Breda

Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns have announced their pre-season plans, but not everyone thinks it’s a good idea.

Both South African giants have announced that they will be travelling to Europe ahead of the 2023/24 season.

Former Buccaneers’ star, Lucky Lekgwathi has now weighed in on the decision, labelling it as an opportunity for players, but also raised some concerns.

As noted by Soccer Laduma, Lekgwathi believes the teams should have toured Africa to better prepare for the CAF Champions League.

“My concern is that we are going to play in the Champions League, and we know how some African facilities are not so good,” he said.

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Concerns aside, Lekgwathi also believes it’s good for the players and will give them a chance to impress teams overseas and possibly earn contracts.

“It’s a good thing to play against teams in Europe so that they can experience these things, and you never know, some of them may get contracts from a team in Europe,” he continued.

Who Sundowns will play

The reigning DStv Premiership champions will face six-time Dutch Eredivisie champions Sparta Rotterdam in their first game in the country.

As noted by Goal, Sundowns will also play NAC Breda. Breda are a second-division side who failed to secure promotion to the Eredivisie earlier this year.

Pirates head to Spain

The Citizen noted that the Sea Robbers will be heading to Spain for their pre-season tour, where they will be based in Marbella.

The Buccaneers will take on Israeli outfit Maccabi Tel Aviv, then Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle.

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They will cap off their tour with a game against UD Las Palmas. Las Palmas were promoted to La Liga at the end of last season.

Lucky Lekgwathi gives Pirates advice

Former Orlando Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi has urged his former side to use playing at home to their advantage in their upcoming CAF Confederation Cup fixture.

The Buccaneers welcome Algeria’s JS Saoura to the Orlando Stadium in their opening game of the tournament.

Lekgwathi, who is arguably the club’s most successful captain, believes that the tournament gets easier after winning the first home game, Sports Brief reported.