Umqeqeshi we-Orlando Pirates, uMandla Ncikazi, akasenalo ithemba lokufumana iMamelodi Sundowns ekwindawo yokuqala – kodwa uthi iqela lakhe lilwela indawo yesibini kwiDStv Premiership. Oku ukuthetha ngexesha elibi, yena noFadlu Davids, bengafunwa ngabalandeli bePirates njengabaqeqeshi ababambiseneyo emva kokugqwidiza emidlalweni yesizini eqhubekayo. UNcikazi noDavids banikwa ithuba lokuqeqesha bebambisene emva kokuhamba kukaJosef Zinnbauer – owagqiba kwelokuba anikezele ngenxa yobudikidiki bePirates. Nangona iPirates ibethe iRoyal Leopards ngo’3-0 kwiCAF Confederation Cup futhi inethuba elihle lokuya kumjikelo olandelayo – kodwa abalandeli abaxolanga yindlela iqela elidlala ngayo, ngakumbi emva kokubethwa yiKaizer Chiefs ngo’2-1 emdlalweni obuseFNB Stadium kutshanje.
UNcikazi uxelele iintatheli kule veki ukuba uyayazi indlela abaziva ngayo abalandeli kwaye imphatha kakubi indlela iqela lakhe eliqhuba ngayo. “Andonwabanga ngoba ndiyazi ukuba abaphathi nabalandeli bePirates bafanelwe ziziphumo ezingcono. Bonke bafuna iqela elizinzileyo nelenza umsebenzi omhle ebaleni. Ukuba bendikwazi, izinto ngezihamba ngendlela abafuna ngayo. Siliqela eliyidlala kakuhle ibhola – kodwa elingakwaziyo ukusebenzisa amathuba emidlalweni.
“Njengabo bonke abaqeqeshi, nam ndilinde ukugxothwa nanini ngoba sonke singabaqeqeshi sisebenza phantsi koxinizelelo,” utshilo uNcikazi phambi komdlalo obuphakathi kweBucs neSuperSport United phakathi evekini. Njengokuba isizini isondela esiphelweni, uNcikazi ufuna iPirates ibambe indawo yesibini xa kuvalwa isizini. “Injongo yethu kukuvala isizini sikwindawo yesibini kwiDStv Premiership. Sifuna ukubuyela kwiCAF Champions League. Yeyona nto esifuna ukuyenza emidlalweni eshiyekileyo,” utshilo uNcikazi. Amaqela akhuphisana ngendawo yesibini aquka AmaZulu, iChiefs neRoyal AM. Enye into ebangela bagxekwe abaqeqeshi kukungamdlalisi uGabadinho Mhango obuye namagowuli amathathu kwi-Afcon 2022.
iGolden Arrows ibethelwe ekhaya yiChippa United emdlalweni weNedbank Cup