Ouaddou: Pirates came well prepared for the heat, and the players delivered

The game was played in hot weather conditions, with temperatures rising to 35 and 36 degrees Celsius at some stage. 

But the Pirates technical team and playing personnel came well prepared, and the two water breaks played a big part. 

Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says they had also prepared the players well mentally about the heat.

"When we prepared for this game in the week, at the beginning of the week, our analysis department already told us that we will have 35 degrees, 36 degrees. So, we were prepared for that, I said to my boys that we are on a mission and soldiers who are going to the mission,” Ouaddou said.

“We don't care about the weather, it can be 40 degrees, it can be -10, we are going there to get results and to go through the next group stages. 

“Mentally we prepared the boys because you know when you play in the Champions League, you have to adapt to any condition and it's part of the development of the boys, it's part of football."

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Ouaddou has avoided talking about his team having already one foot in the group stages, and says until the second leg is done at Orlando Amstel Arena next Friday, they are taking this tie very seriously.

"I think we have succeeded in the first half of these two games, we still have the second half in South Africa. I cannot say that we have one foot in the group stages, we still have an important second half there,” the coach added.

“We will have to prepare in order to go directly to the group stages. It's an important target for the club, it's an important target for the coaches and the players. We will be sure that we rest and start this game definitely to win it."