Orlando Pirates May Be Short Of Fit Defenders Ahead Of The Soweto Derby!
Orlando Pirates May Be Short Of Fit Defenders Ahead Of The Soweto Derby! The Buccaneers take on their rivals Amakhosi this weekend.
Orlando Pirates May Be Short Of Fit Defenders Ahead Of The Soweto Derby! The Buccaneers take on their rivals Amakhosi this weekend.
Orlando Pirates visit Kaizer Chiefs in the DSTV Premiership this weekend. Co-coach Mandla Ncikazi is scared they might not have enough fit defenders at the moment.
The Buccaneers lost captain and influential defender Happy Jele recently. On Tuesday, against Sekhukhune United they also saw Nigerian defender Olisa Ndah limping off.
This means that Thulani Hlatshwayo and Kwanda Mngonyama are the only two fit centre back at the moment. It is no secret that these two are not the preferred defenders at the club.
Fadlu Davids and Mandla Ncikazi would much rather play Happy Jele and Olisa Ndah. The young Thabo Sesane is yet to make an appearance this season.
“I’m hoping that Ndah is OK because you can see what’s happening at the back. We lost Jele, now Ndah is doubtful,” Ncikazi told reporters on Tuesdays.
“But it is what it is. Let’s move on to the next match.
“The most important match in the PSL calendar.
“We have a lot of challenges, without making excuses because I know in every team it happens. But in our team it’s extraordinary.
“You can make a list of a new team out of injuries.
“I’m just happy that we won with every adversity that we faced. Let’s look to the next one.” The former Golden Arrows mentor said.
The Bucs came from behind to claim all three points against Babina Noko on Tuesday evening. This win put them ahead of Kaizer Chiefs on the league standings.
“What I thought was encouraging was the ability to stay composed when we fell behind. Subconsciously I thought we would start rushing which happened in one match.
“But I just liked the character that we saw from our team. Work in progress.
“We continued playing the way we play. If you are possession-based and you want to use possession to create chances, don’t change now because you have fallen behind.
“You need the patience and against a low block, they are waiting for one ball.
“Make one mistake and they will punish you. I think we did well second half in handling them in their counter-attacks.”
Kick-off on Saturday is 15h00. Orlando Pirates May Be Short Of Fit Defenders Ahead Of The Soweto Derby!
