Ncikazi praises Pirates youngsters after win over SuperSport Utd

Orlando Pirates interim coach Mandla Ncikazi is delighted with how the young players are adapting in the first team.

With first choice goalkeeper Sipho Chaine absent due to an injury, Ncikazi gave Siyabonga Dladla his debut in goals during the Betway Premiership victory over SuperSport United on Tuesday.

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The young goalkeeper rewarded him with a clean sheet in the Buccaneers 1-0 win over Matsatsantsa a Pitori at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. Mohau Nkota scored the only goal of the match in the second half.

“These human beings are amazing, I have no complaints. They dig in every day; they are there every day no complaints and one can only be proud that this group of players are willing to put their names in the history of the club. I’m just happy for the young boys that are getting the opportunity,” said Ncikazi after the game.

Ncikazi hails birthday boy Dladla

Ncikazi reserved a special praise for birthday boy Dladla, who celebrated his 24^th birthday by keeping a clean sheet on his Pirates debut.

“I thought Siya, you couldn’t tell that it was a young boy in the sticks. Proud for the history of this club.

“Credit should be given to the process of the club and our junior coaches. Also, the senior coach [Jose Riveiro] who has just left.

“So, it’s just a long process and the contribution of a lot of people. There is still a group of them [young players] who are waiting to get the opportunity. I hope we give them an opportunity, and they take it with both hands like the others have done,” added Ncikazi.

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Pirates, who are currently second on the Betway Premiership standings behind champions Mamelodi Sundowns, will next face AmaZulu away at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday.

They will then host Magesi at home at the Orlando Stadium next week Wednesday in their last league game of the 2024/25 season.

Arendse to ring in changes

SuperSport, on the other side, are at home to Richards Bay in their next league match also on Saturday. Interim coach Andre Arendse has hinted that he will make some changes to his team for this “massive” clash.

“Massive one for us.  There’s some heavy legs out there, a lot of these guys have played consecutively in the last five to six games,” said Arendse.

“So, we need to freshen things up a little bit. We’ll look at that on the training ground and see who’s ready to step up and what the legs are going to give us. I got all the confidence in this group of players.

“We are going to have to do it the hard way, but like I said I got full confidence that this group is going to see this over the line,” he added.