Orlando Pirates Still Hopeful in Betway Premiership Title Race
Despite suffering a 2-0 loss to Marumo Gallants, Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi remains optimistic about their chances in the Betway Premiership title race. The Buccaneers currently sit 18 points behind league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, but with four games in hand, Ncikazi believes that the race is still on.
Speaking to SuperSport TV, Ncikazi refused to concede defeat, stating, “Some teams have played 20 games and we are four behind. If we win our next games the race is still on. We are taking it one game at a time and will continue doing that until we are told otherwise.”
Despite the disappointing result against Gallants, Ncikazi felt that Pirates were in control of the game before conceding the first goal. He acknowledged the team’s struggles in converting chances and highlighted the opponents’ higher intensity as a key factor in their defeat.
Former Pirates striker Gabadinho Mhango opened the scoring for Gallants, while Thalente Mbatha’s own goal sealed the victory for the underdogs. Gallants’ newly-appointed head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou commended his players for their hard work and determination, emphasizing the importance of belief and strong performances in their battle against relegation.
Looking ahead, Ncikazi and the Pirates coaching staff will regroup and focus on the next set of fixtures as they aim to close the gap on Sundowns and keep their title hopes alive. Despite the challenges they face, the team remains determined to fight until the end and will continue to push for positive results in the remaining matches of the season.
