Orlando Pirates legend makes passionate plea as Bucs look to stun Saint Lupopo FC and keep their Champions League dream alive

Orlando Pirates legend Teboho Moloi has urged the club's fans to strongly support the team when the Premier Soccer League heavyweights attempt to keep their Champions League dream alive.

Although he recognises the real job of keeping the continental dream alive squarely lies with the players, Moloi has explained how fans' support can help the Sea Robbers turn the tide.    

“My plea to the Pirates supporters is one: fill up Orlando Stadium in the return leg. This game is not in the players’ hands but in our hands. It's not impossible to reverse the 3-0 deficit," Moloi told Kick Off. 

"I plead with the supporters to be vociferous. Irrespective of what is happening, we need to carry our boys to victory.

"History has it [that] whenever we fill Orlando Stadium, these boys rise to the occasion."

Moloi recalled the kind of environment he faced before and said many things can happen against a visiting team, especially when the game is not broadcast live.

"The treatment that Pirates got in the DRC didn't come as a surprise to me, especially with the game not being shown," he recalled.

"It happened also when I went there with Roger De Sa; Lucky Lekgwathi received a red card that wasn't a red card. The late Senzo Meyiwa had to save three penalties – one was not a penalty, and two of them were retaken.

"Now three of the Pirates' goals were [allegedly] disallowed."    

A do-or-die battle lies ahead for the Soweto giants, who fell to a 3-0 defeat in the first leg in Lubumbashi.

Given that they were close last season - Bucs were eliminated at the semi-final by Pyramids FC - their main priority is to ensure they progress further this season.

Pirates will host Saint Lupopo FC on October 26.