Mandla Ncikazi's decisions have been defended following a lukewarm performance and unsatisfactory result by Orlando Pirates in a Betway Premiership match against TS Galaxy on Saturday.
Ncikazi took charge of his first match as interim head coach in the post-Jose Riveiro era at Pirates in a match that ended 1-1 at Orlando Stadium.
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"Ncikazi is not part of the playing personnel. The players who started the game on Saturday are the same ones used by Riveiro," Innocent Mayoyo points out.
"The Pirates players won't adjust quickly under a new coach. It will be challenging to maintain good performances at this stage of the season. Let's save those expectations for next season.
"Ncikazi could be the Pirates coach, but only if we are being patriotic. Typically, it's not easy for a local coach at such a big club. There’s a lot more pressure on local coaches compared to foreign ones, as Saturday's game showed. The pressure is more intense than one might think."
"As South Africans, we often blame the head coach. However, we need to build from a solid foundation. We must learn from (Mamelodi) Sundowns," added the ex-goalkeeper.
Mayoyo emphasised that both Pirates and Chiefs need time to resolve their issues.
"It cannot be fixed overnight. Quick fixes won't help. You need to blend young players with experienced ones, just as Ncikazi did. Players like Makhehlene Makhaula will not be around forever. Currently, there is no other strong number six at Pirates besides Makhaula.
"I am referring to a player like the next Andile Jali, and we don't have that right now. We need to nurture someone, similar to what we’re doing with Mbekezeli Mbokazi."
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The former nomadic net-minder highlighted, "Whoever (Mamelodi) Sundowns put on the field performs well, but for other teams, performance tends to drop when they change their playing personnel.
"Losing to Pyramids showed that we lack depth. If we rely on 17-year-olds at a big stage like Africa, it suggests we don't have seasoned players.
"How can you put your trust in someone who has never participated in that tournament before? Pirates and Chiefs should be in a position to challenge Sundowns."
