Lack of leadership at Pirates confusing players, says club legend

Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Joseph Makhanya believes the club’s failure to appoint a permanent head coach, is causing a lot of confusion at the club.

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Speaking ahead of Pirates’ Caf Confederation Cup first second round tie against Diables Noirs  at Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat pon in Brazzaville Friday, Makhanya called on the Bucs management to make a decision soon.

Pirates are without a permanent head coach after Josef Zinnbauer quit the job. Assistant coaches Fadlu Davids and Mandla Ncikazi are currently acting as co-caretaker coaches. 

“The lack of leadership at Pirates is confusing the players, not only the players, but the fans and everyone associated with the club. It’s about time that Pirates make the decision on who is taking over at the club,” said Makhanya, who was affectionately know as ‘Duku-Duku’ during his playing days. 

“I always feel and hope that Pirates can do well in Africa. I know that they are always determined to do well. But looking at how they have blowing hot and cold this season, it becomes difficult to predict how they are going to do. But we can always hope for the best, because we all know away games are always difficult.”

With the quality in the Pirates squad, Makhanya is confident that Pirates can do well once the issue of leadership is sorted out and they will be able to compete against the best teams in Africa, even here at home. 

“Pirates is one of the best squads in the league, they have the quality in the team. It’s been there for years and I think this season it’s much more. That’s what I’m saying they have to compete against the best teams in the PSL, which is Mamelodi Sundowns at the moment,” he added. 

“So, like I said, once the confusion around the leadership is sorted, they will be able to play like a Pirates that we all know. If you look at their games, you will see that there are some games whereby they dominate and some games they just out, the just under perform.”

Pirates last played a competitive match before the international break, playing to a 1-1 draw against Cape Town City in the DStv Premiership. Doable Noirs meanwhile, won 1-0 against Burundian side Bumaruru FC in the first round of the Confed Cup.