Orlando Pirates have responded to calls for the club to abandon their upcoming pre-season match against Maccabi Tel Aviv in Spain.
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The Buccaneers are set to take on the Israeli giants as part of their pre-season preparations in Marbella, Spain on 13 July.
However, last week the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Coalition had called for Pirates not to play a friendly match against the Israeli side, stating that Israel have been perpetrating human rights abuse against Palestinians.
Now Pirates have broken their silence on the matter, revealing their plans to go ahead with the FIFA-sanctioned match.
"As a club that has its roots in a conflict ridden South Africa and has been an active participant in the dismantling of apartheid, Orlando Pirates is naturally conscious of the plight of the Palestinian people. Of the many forces that seek a long overdue solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Orlando Pirates stand with those that believe a path exists for men and women of courage to continue coming together to find a lasting solution that South Africa proved to the world can be found when there is a will and courage. The Rule of Law. Orlando Pirates' core functioning is governed by rules. It is to the rules that Orlando Pirates went when confronted with calls to withdraw from playing Maccabi Tel Aviv. There is no cultural boycott or boycott of any form by either the South African government, FIFA or the host country that Orlando Pirates can base its refusal to play against Maccabi Tel Aviv on. Heeding a call from any other body would create a conflict within Orlando Pirates that would undermine the club's values and history irreparably," the statement read in part.
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— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) July 10, 2023
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Pirates will take on Independiente da Valle and UD Las Palmas as part of their European tour.
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