Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi revealed that the team’s main goal is to make sure that they return to competing in Caf club competitions next season now that they have a spot in the Nedbank Cup’s next round.
Pirates assistant coach emphasised that the team’s priority this season is to compete in either the Caf Confederation Cup or the Caf Champions League.
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The team improved their chances of returning to continental competition by defeating All Stars FC 2-0 at the Wits Football Stadium on Saturday to advance to the Ke Yona Cup’s last 16.
The Soweto giants are aiming to win the Nedbank Cup, which guarantees them a place in the Confederation Cup, especially with the race for second and third place in the DStv Premiership looking extremely competitive right now.
With 28 points, Bucs are fourth in the standings, three points behind third-placed Richards Bay FC for the Confederation Cup spot and four points behind second-placed SuperSport United.
“Pirates must go back to where they belong. Pirates belong in the Champions League and winning trophies. That’s the challenge that we want to overcome. We must get back to that. Injuries haven’t been kind, but like other teams, we are working on that,” Ncikazi said after the All Stars match.
Nickazi emphasised the importance of the club’s success, claiming that injuries in the team have slowed their progress.
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Even though Pirates defeated All Stars, they were forced to finish the match without their head coach Jose Riveiro because he had been dismissed by referee Xola Sitela.
Ncikazi claims he was not sure what caused the red card and that he did not receive an explanation from the match officials.
The Buccaneers must now return their attention to the league, with a match against Maritzburg United at Orlando Stadium on Friday.
