Mandla Ncikazi believes Orlando Pirates should be competing with the big boys in the Caf Champions League and aim to prove their ‘big club’ status by faring well in the Confederation Cup.
Bucs got their Confed Cup Group B campaign off to a perfect start as they comfortably beat Algerian side JS Saoura 2-0 at Orlando Stadium on Sunday.
And Pirates co-head coach Ncikazi says it is important for a big club like the Soweto giants to go all the way and win the Confed Cup.
“If we say Pirates are a big team, it must be seen in their performances. It must be seen in competitions where they’re competing,” said Ncikazi.
“I think it’s important for the brand to compete at the right stage and the right stage for Pirates, without disrespecting the cup that we’re in, is the Champions League.
“Pirates should be competing in the main one [the Champions League], but having said that, we’re here now, and maybe we’ve got to prove by doing well in this cup that we really deserve to be in the Champions League,” concluded the Bucs coach.
In their second group stage encounter on Sunday, the Buccaneers will take on Al-Ittihad of Libya. But before that, Pirates play host to Ncikazi’s former side, Golden Arrows, in a DStv Premiership game on Wednesday.
