Staff Reporter.
Royal AM will seek a CAF Champions League spot when they close their DStv Premiership campaign in hosting Orlando Pirates at the Chatsworth Stadium on Friday evening.
The club could qualify for the CAF Champions League or Confederations Cup group stages should they beat Pirates in their final league encounter.
Royal AM are currently in 5th position, one point off Stellenbosch who occupy the CAF Confederations spot. Also, coach John Maduka’s side are three points behind Cape Town City who are in the CAF Champions League placing.
Considering Royal AM’s superior goal difference to both the Cape sides, three points could well see themselves play continental football next season.
After Royal AM’s 3-2 loss to Champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Maduka spoke of their CAF football dream and that there is a chance for the club to accomplish their goal.
“We still have a chance, this what God provided for us, this game of course we wanted to win,” said Maduka after the game.
“In as much as we wanted to win it didn’t happen, we have another chance.
“We must make sure we grab with both hands, we’re going to play against another very difficult team, it’s not going to be easy, it’s very important for us to play throughout the match.
Breathing down the neck of Royal AM, Pirates are likewise in the running for CAF competition football. The Soweto giants have two games in hand and are six points away from the champions league spot, while having an identical goal difference to that of Cape Town City.
Pirates responded to their CAF Confederations Cup final defeat by sweeping Maritzburg United aside in a 4-1 win at the Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night.
Their victory against the Team of Choice was only the second time they collected maximum points in their last five DStv Premiership games.
After putting in a Man of the Match performance, Thembinkosi Lorch spoke about fatigue and also, the tough task of facing Royal AM in KwaZulu-Natal.
“It wasn’t an easy game and you can see the body is tired from the final,” said Lorch after the game.
“But the most important thing is that we won the game, we created a lot of chances and we converted them.
“We need to push, there’s nothing much that we can do, we need to push and get maximum points, which we got today, so the focus is on the next game to KZN, it’s going to be a tough game, so we need to prepare ourselves.”