On Saturday, Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi expressed his desire for the club to get back to the culture of winning trophies and consistently compete in the CAF Champions League.
The Sea Robbers, who have advanced to the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup with a 2-0 win over Motsepe Foundation Championship side All Stars, have a chance of winning a cup double this season. They are also just four points behind second-placed SuperSport United in fourth place on the Premiership log, giving them a chance to compete in the CAF Champions League.
“Pirates must go back to where they belong, Pirates belongs to the (CAF) Champions League, Pirates belongs to winning cups, winning trophies, that’s the challenge we’re trying to overcome,” Ncikazi said.
In order to bolster the team, Pirates signed Marou Souaibou, Craig Martin and Makhehlene Makhaula in the January transfer window. Ncikazi suggested that the quality that they now have in reserve will only make them better, with Souaibou, Makhaula and the likes of Vincent Pule and Thembinkosi Lorch on the bench.
The former Golden Arrows mentor also suggested that the team will even get stronger with other quality players due to return from injuries.
“I think we’re a team that is going to grow and be better, when you look at the number of players coming back, Lorch coming back, Marou will get an opportunity, Makhaula getting an opportunity,” he continued.
