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.
