Orlando Pirates midfielder Thalente Mbatha has revealed the personal advantages he anticipates gaining from participating in the CAF Champions League.
The 24-year-old midfield maestro was signed permanently by Buccaneers this transfer window having spent the second round of the last season on loan from SuperSport United.
He seems to be gradually earning his place as a regular in the line up for Ezimnyama Ngenkani.
Mbatha believes taking on clubs in Africa, who have players who are aggressive by nature, will enhance his capacity to handle physical challenges. He is confident that this experience will yield positive results in domestic football.
THALENTE MBATHA ON HOW HE WILL BENEFIT FROM CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
“This is something to be grateful for. It's not going to be an easy one because Africa is where you meet other great players,” Mbatha told Soccer Laduma.
“I think it's going to help me too much because it's a physical tournament, so it's something that's going to even help us in the league and in terms of aggressiveness.
Pirates are taking on the Madagascar club CNaPS Sport on Sunday, 18 August at National Sports Complex Pitch 1 in Mauritius. The match kicks off at 3 pm.
Mbatha says not knowing the opponents makes the clash a difficult one.
“It's not an easy opponent. That's what they told us. We don't know much about them, but they have a great team and great facilities as they told us that we would be playing on astroturf, so it's a different feeling because we don't have grounds that are astroturf here. We just need to prepare ourselves.”
Jose Riveiro’s troops will aim to get the better of the Madagascan side before they meet them again in the return leg which will be held on Friday, 23 August.