African Stars will look to put themselves in a strong position for a group stage spot when they face South African giants Orlando Pirates in the second preliminary round of the 2026/27 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League at the National Stadium in Gaborone, Botswana, tomorrow at 15h00.
The Namibian champions head into the first leg determined to make home advantage count, with head coach Gerald Günther confident that his players are approaching the continental encounter with the right mindset.
“Preparation is going very well; boys are working hard, mindset is in the right place, and we did some positive work back in Windhoek, and we are currently continuing the work here,” Günther said.
The coach acknowledged the quality of their opponents but stressed that his players must approach the match with courage and determination, not fear.
“We can’t allow ourselves to be fearful, we need to respect the opponent, but definitely not show any fear,” he said.
Stars have also studied Pirates in preparation for the match, with the technical team working on strategies to counter the South African side’s strengths. Günther said the team will keep its tactical approach private but emphasised the importance of defensive organisation and putting pressure on their opponents.
“We need to make sure that we try and keep Pirates on their back foot, make them defend and make sure that we are organised in our defensive structure,” he said.
Captain Ronald Ketjijere believes the team has the motivation and determination needed to compete against one of the continent’s established clubs.
The experienced midfielder said the mood in camp was positive, adding that the players understand the significance of facing a team with Pirates’ continental pedigree.
He said the senior players had encouraged their teammates to stay composed and believe in their ability to compete, especially given the pressure of playing in a continental competition.
Ketjijere acknowledged Pirates’ quality and recent form, but said Stars did not travel to Botswana to merely participate. The Namibian side intends to compete and frustrate the visitors, particularly by limiting their dangerous transitions and quick counterattacks.
“Defensively, they are a transitional team, very fast in attacks, so we need to counter that. Obviously, a positive result will have us one foot in the Champions League group stage, which is a plus to us,” Ketjijere said.
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