Orlando Pirates interim coach Mandla Ncikazi says there are a lot of positives to take from the season despite ending the campaign in second spot.
Pirates were on course to end the season with a win after Patrick Maswanganyi’s early opener, but were pegged back by Edmore Chirambadare.
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On the bright side, the Buccaneers take comfort from the fact that a lot of development graduates featured prominently in the team this season and became mainstay figures.
“The biggest lesson today was – you can’t create so many chances and don’t score. It’s a lesson, if I recall correctly, they had one chance – one transition. Okay, it’s lesson, but then so many positives from the set-up,” Ncikazi told SuperSport TV.
“I thought a lot of young players got the exposure, at least now we’ve got the information where to improve where to go from there for me that was the biggest lesson. It would’ve been good to finish at home with a win but I think it’s still positive going into the next season,” he continued.
Having won the MTN8, being runners in the league to reaching the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League and final of the Nedbank Cup, it’s been a touch-and-go campaign for the Sea Robbers.
“I thought there’s a lot of positives and negatives. If you look at our team from the gap perspective from us competing in Africa. Just one moment semi-final CAF we could’ve gone into the final and maybe win it. Nedbank going into the final, I don’t think there’s any team that’s introduced so many youngsters in their set-up.
“For me, that’s a big positive – so many players are in the national team. Selepe who was a ball-boy three months ago now he is in the national team. For me, it’s a lot of positives. I just wish we grow from here and become better,” Ncikazi said.
Looking ahead to next season, the Buccaneers backs the brains trust to improve and write the wrongs from the campaign that just concluded.
“No, Pirates will improve – I trust the wisdom that is in that office of ours. We will have to take stock, we will have to compile our reports where did we get it wrong, we can we improve, we can be better, where do we have to reinforce where we think we were doing well and after that I’m sure solutions will come out and we will be a better team next season,” Ncikazi said.
