Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi has shed light on the club’s unusual preparations for the Carling Knockout Cup final against Marumo Gallants at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on the 6th of December.
The Soweto giants will be aiming to lift their second trophy of the 2025/26 season after winning the MTN8 title early in the campaign. Pirates beat Stellenbosch FC 3-1 in the final at Mbombela Stadium two months ago to clinch the title for the fourth time in a row.
The Buccaneers have had a decent start to the current season after reaching two cup finals in a space of three months under head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou. The latter took over the hot seat in the off-season to replace Jose Riveiro, who left the club to join Al Ahly, where he has since been fired.
The Moroccan coach will face his former side Marumo Gallants after spending the second round of the previous season with the Bloemfontein-based outfit. Pirates assistant coach Ncikazi has opened up on the Carling Cup preparations, stating that they are going well despite missing key players at training who have been away on national duty with Bafana Bafana.
WHAT NCIKAZI SAID ABOUT CARLING KNOCKOUT CUP PREPARATIONS
The Sea Robber had Sipho Chaine, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Thalente Mbatha, Sipho Mbule, Masindi Nemtajela, Oswin Appollis, Tshepang Moremi, and Evidence Makgopa away on camp with Bafana.
“I like how our team has adapted. We don’t complain when we try to prepare for such an important tournament, and you have so many players away with the national team, it has not happened for quite some time where one club has so many players,” Ncikazi said.
“We appreciate that and we support it, but again, we must continue, our bosses always say just prepare as if those players are not there at all. So, our preparations are as serious as if we were playing that cup final tomorrow.
“This is what is happening in our club: we’re taking training sessions very seriously. I’m confident that with this spirit amongst players, unity, and support from management, we are going to get good results.”
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