CAFCL: Orlando Pirates prepared me for pressure – Mandla Qhogi

Former Orlando Pirates youth team coach Mandla Qhogi has explained how the time he spent with the South African football giants prepared him to handle pressure.

The ex-Pirates under-19 trainer is making his mark in neighbouring Eswatini, steering Nsingizini Hotspurs to the 2024 MTN Premier League title.

Winning the domestic league championship paved the way for Hotspurs’ maiden participation in the 2025-2026 CAF Champions League qualifying rounds.

Mandla Qhogi’s CAF Champions League masterstroke

Qhogi once again produced his tactical masterstroke as the Eswatini champions overcame Simba Bhora FC from Zimbabwe on post-match penalties over the weekend.

Hotspurs will now date Simba SC in the CAF Champions League next qualifying round.

The former Sekhukhune United assistant coach told the media that he will do his homework ahead of the match as he knows that the Tanzanian giants are very experienced.

“Going to the next opponent, we will do our homework,” the coach said.

Asked how he was coping with the demands of managing Hotspurs, the South African said he was used to working under pressure, thanks to the time he spent at Pirates.

“I have been tested before. I am coming from a team that is very difficult to work in and it was a privilege to come through from that structure. There is always pressure from supporters, from the players and management. I am setting myself on club vision to compete in Africa. I am pushing to make sure the club sees why they brought me,” he said.

The Hotspurs mentor then addressed negativity in some circles of Eswatini football, urging the country’s football fraternity to learn to support teams that are participating in the CAF interclub competitions.

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