Orlando Pirates have taken a big step towards the CAF Champions League group stage. But their coach says the work is far from over.

The Buccaneers beat Namibia’s African Stars 1-0 at Botswana National Stadium in the first leg of their second-round qualifier. But before tactics, Abdeslam Ouaddou thanked the crowd.

“Before I speak about the game, let me thank our supporters in Botswana. We had a wonderful welcome from the people here,” he said.

“I was here in 2006 when I was still a player, so it was my second time at this venue. What energy and power they gave us as our twelfth man. It was fantastic. It is important to give them credit for that.”

On the match, he was pleased. “I think my boys did well. We started exactly the way we wanted,” he added.

“We didn’t have any surprise about the opponent. I had very good information from my analysts, they did a great job. Well done to them.

“In the first half we adapted well to the heat and the pitch and could have opened the score earlier with two goals. I must also applaud our defence for keeping a clean sheet. We went into half-time without any goal.”

Then came the adjustments. Ouaddou said they made changes for the second half, and it worked as Tshepang Moremi scored the winner with 15 minutes to the end.

“The aim was to make some tactical adjustments to get that away goal, and we did it. The boys came with a lot of ambition, and we could have scored more.”

He refused to celebrate too early. “Let us be happy because we have succeeded in the first half of the game,” he added. “But we still have the second half in South Africa.

“I cannot say we have one foot in the group stages because we still have another match, and we will have to prepare properly to go direct to the group stages.

“That is an important target for the club, for the coaches and the players. So we will make sure that we rest and start the game with the aim to win it.”

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content