African Stars defender says Pirates clash showed him where he belongs

A young South African defender has spoken openly about the special feeling he got from lining up against Orlando Pirates in the CAF Champions League, saying the game left him believing he belongs on that stage.

Lyema Dopolo, the 22-year-old centre-back who plays for Namibian champions African Stars, featured in the first leg of their second preliminary round tie against the Buccaneers. The match took place at the Botswana National Stadium because African Stars’ home ground in Namibia does not meet CAF standards. Pirates won the game 1-0 thanks to a second-half goal from Tshepang Moremi, giving them a slim advantage ahead of the return leg in Johannesburg.

Dopolo, who previously came through the ranks at SuperSport United before moving to Namibia, started at the heart of the African Stars defence. Speaking after the game, he did not hide how much the occasion meant to him.

“Pirates are at a different level compared to African Stars. Half of the squad is representing their national teams, so that alone says a lot,” he said. He pointed specifically to the Pirates front three of Yanela Mbuthuma, Tshepang Moremi and Gamphani Lungu, noting that all three are national team players. “They are quite smart and quick,” he added, “but it is also good for me to test myself against the best.”

The former SuperSport United player described the experience of facing one of South Africa’s biggest clubs as a highlight. “It was quite a great feeling to step onto the pitch against Orlando Pirates, an institution in African football. Being up against the country’s best was a great feeling, and I cannot lie about that.”

Most importantly, Dopolo said the match gave him a clear sense of his own level. “After that game, I felt like that’s where I belong — on this kind of stage in the CAF Champions League, sharing the pitch with national team players. I take a lot of positives from that game.”

African Stars had reached the tie after overturning a first-leg deficit against Gabon’s AS Mangasport. For Dopolo, who joined the Namibian side in July after a strong season with FC Ongos, the clash against Pirates offered a chance to measure himself against top-quality opposition on the continental stage. With the second leg still to be played, he and his teammates will look to take the confidence from the first meeting into the return fixture as they chase a place in the group stage.

Source: https://x.com/KickOffMagazine/status/2113608950041960751

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