AmaZulu win gives coach Mandla Ncikazi clues about Orlando Pirates’ progress

Johannesburg — Orlando Pirates’ co-coach Mandla Ncikazi says their win over AmaZulu in the Nedbank Cup last 32 on Sunday will serve as a huge morale booster in their pursuit to do well in all the remaining competitions in the final stretch of the season.

After a long-hiatus, amid the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), the domestic season returned last week via the Nedbank Cup, where the Bucs defeated Usuthu 1-0 in the main attraction of the week to progress to the last 16.

The Buccaneers' goal was scored by Deon Hotto in the 53rd minute. But this win was also important as it laid bare Pirates’ ambition of winning week in and week out in the second half of the season – where three trophies are still up for grabs.

But despite the league being a marathon, Ncikazi admitted that the title is out of reach for the second-placed Pirates who trail leaders Mamelodi Sundowns by 14 points. Pirates were their worst enemy late last year, dropping valuable points.

Not all is lost though. They’ll have to look for redemption via the Nedbank Cup and CAF Confederation Cup where they’ll open their group stage campaign against Algerian-based side JS Saoura at home, Orlando Stadium, late on Sunday.

“It was a real and good test. We played AmaZulu in our last match before the break and we played them now. It’s not always easy. (But) playing a team in the same league, you have an idea of where you stand,” Ncikazi after the win over Usuthu.

“You have an idea of where you stand in terms of fitness and where you want to go. There are only positives from the match. You probably wouldn’t read much if you were playing a team from the ABC Motsepe League (which is a lower division).

“We want to build from this. There’s a tougher fixture