Time to shake off inferiority complex

South African soccer is numb with shock from its fallen fortunes, despite the best resources the game enjoys in Africa’s biggest economy. The victory of Zambia in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations has, to a great extend, highlighted how we have fallen behind in Africa’s pecking order.

I subscribe to the argument that the ills of South African football will be healed by a strong domestic league. And that strength must immediately translate to competiveness on the continent. It is therefore imperative for Orlando Pirates and Black Leopards up the ante in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup respectively.

Leopards had a stuttering start yesterday when they were held to a 1-1 draw in Polokwane by Motor Action from Zimbabwe. The Limpopo side now face an uphill in the second leg either in Harare where Motor Action are based, or in Mutare where the club play most of its home matches in the 10000-capacity Sakubva Stadium.

Pirates today get a chance to set the tone for their intention to be crowned African champions again since 1995, and as well as setting the national agenda clear about SA’s ambition to be a force to be reckoned with again in African football.

The Buccaneers open their 2012 Champions League against the new champions of Angolan football, Club Recreativo Desportivo do Libolo, in Port Elizabeth today. The Angolans have shown their intentions by setting a month-long camp in South Africa, playing several friendlies with local teams and other Angolan teams that have set up camp mostly in Pretoria. Recreativo has a previous stint in the Champions League, in 2010 after finishing runners-up in the Girabola in 2009 (won that year by Inter Luanda).

Orlando Pirates are currently on a roll in domestic competition, and won all trophies on offer in 2011. With the resources at their disposal, including some of the country's talented players in all areas of the field, it’s about Pirates broke down the psychological barrier which has limited SA teams in continental championships. The limitation – either due to inferiority complex or plain naivete – can also explain why even Bafana Bafana fail to win in places like Sierra Leone and Niger.

Champions League is the ticket to the Fifa World Club Cup. The time is now for Pirates; what more would they want for a good run in the Champions League?

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