Ncikazi urges Orlando Pirates players to be ruthless

Mandla Ncikazi bemoaned Orlando Pirates’ failure to create enough chances to score after the club went into their third game without registering a victory. 

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Pirates were held to a goalless draw by Marumo Gallants at the Peter Mokaba Stadium last Tuesday.

Ncikazi, who is a former Golden Arrows coach, was understandably disappointed with the players, with the team having enjoyed much possession, which was not put into good use as the side failed to create enough clear cut goal goal scoring chances, emphasising that the team’s targets for this season requires them to win games having having lost one cup game and registering two draws in the league.

“Highly disappointed on the result, Pirates doesn’t have home or away matches. Pirates must win. Based on the targets on the targets that have been set for a season, we still below, the pace is a bit slower. But there are positives on how we played today. And when you play against a low block like they played, it’s not going to be easy,” said Ncikazi. 

“Disappointed that in the final third, the entries were not as effective, wide areas were not as effective, shots at goal were not effective. We are a possession based team, we must try to equate the possession that we have with the chances that we create. For now, it was possession for possession and no chances created, that was the disappointing part.”

Ncikazi wants the Pirates players to be more ruthless, particularly upfront.  

“But we had half chances, there was one in the first, half a chance take that. Be more ruthless on set-plays and I don’t think today (Tuesday) we were as ruthless as the previous match. But it’s work in progress.”

In the past three games, the Buccaneers have managed to score three goals, while conceding four.