Pirates: Zambia is perfect for our pre-season

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Orlando Pirates have revealed why they chose Zambia as their preferred destination for the second phase of their pre-season preparations ahead of the 2018-19 Absa Premiership campaign.

The Soweto giants embarked on a week-long training camp in Nelspruit with the team being taken through their paces by their strength and conditioning coach.

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Pirates administrative officer Floyd Mbele cited the club’s participation in the Caf Champions League as a factor behind them setting up in Zambia.

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‘The reason why we chose Zambia is that we wanted the new players who have never played beyond the borders of South Africa to get a feel of what it’s like to play in a different country,’ Mbele said.

‘Also Zambia feels much like South Africa. They have a similar topography and similar weather conditions so our players will get the feel for playing in a foreign country but still have that sense of familiarity of home.

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‘It is important that our new players adapt to playing in other African countries as we really want to compete effectively in the Caf Champions League.

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‘It’s important that our coaches should be able to rely on all the players, both old and new, and that’s why we are ensuring that all our players are part of this trip,’ he concluded.

Pirates are set to take part in a number of friendly matches against Zambian opposition before returning to South African shores prior to the start of the PSL campaign, which is set to commence in the first week of August.

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-This story originally appeared on SportsClub.co.za

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Marshall Gouts