Orlando Pirates failures no fault of young Bucs, charges interim coach Ncikazi

Orlando Pirates interim coach Mandla Ncikazi has come to the defence of the club’s emerging talent, insisting their lack of experience is not to blame for the Buccaneers’ recent failures.

Ncikazi, who has taken over the reins following the departure of head coach José Riveiro, was speaking after Pirates played out to a 1-1 draw with AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday — their penultimate match of the Betway Premiership campaign. 

The Buccaneers had high hopes of finishing the season with multiple trophies. 

Having already lifted the MTN8 earlier in the campaign, Pirates remained in contention for the league title, the CAF Champions League and the Nedbank Cup well into the final stretch of the season. But in a turbulent fortnight, those ambitions were dismantled. 

Pirates lost to Sekhukhune United in the league, were knocked out of the Champions League by Egypt’s Pyramids FC, and fell at the final hurdle in the Nedbank Cup — edged out by bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs.

That collapse invited scrutiny, particularly over the club’s increasing reliance on youthful talent.

Over the last two to three seasons, Pirates have been among the frontrunners in promoting academy graduates to the senior team. 

Players such as Relebohile Mofokeng, Mohau Nkota, Siyabonga Ndlozi, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, and Simphiwe Selepe have all made their mark during this period.

However, their involvement in some of the season’s most high-stakes fixtures raised concerns from some quarters about whether Pirates had leaned too heavily on untested players at crucial moments.

Ncikazi, though, was adamant that the club’s direction remains the right one.

“Number of games, maybe (we may look to ease the load) but in terms of the experience, I don’t think so,” he said.

“If you play Nkota in Egypt and you play Selepe in a Soweto Derby, the most important games, I see the positive sides because there’s a lot of experience gained in those games.”

“The team is growing and maybe the direction the team is taking, I think is the right one for the growth of not only our team but South African football in general.”

“It’s massive from our club to be bold enough to allow this process to happen and maybe other teams should follow because it’s a very bold decision from our club and I don’t see anything wrong.”

Pirates have one final league game remaining — a home clash against Magesi — where Ncikazi is expected to continue overseeing the side as the club charts its course for a new era following Riveiro’s exit.

Despite recent setbacks, the Buccaneers appear determined to stay the course with their youth-driven strategy. With another off-season approaching, the focus will likely be on finding the right blend of experience and youthful energy to challenge more consistently on all fronts next season.