Fadlu Davids reflects on turbulent Orlando Pirates spell
"It was a huge learning curve"
Maritzburg United head coach Fadlu Davids has spoken out about what he gained during his tenure at Orlando Pirates.
It was a rare opportunity for a rookie coach, who the Team of choice had sacked following a string of poor results.
Pirates appointed him in 2019 and he joined Milutin Sredojević and Rulani Mokwena in the technical team and served as a second assistant coach. This position had been vacated by former club captain Benson Mhlongo.
Davids was in the limelight when he was named the club’s co-coach along with Mandla Ncikazi last season. This was after Josef Zinnbaeur resigned as the club’s head coach.
Ncikazi and Davids had a rollercoaster run locally but took the club to the CAF Confederation Cup final. However, they lost to RS Berkane during a penalty shootout.
Davids has described his spell at Pirates as a learning curve. He believes there was a lot to take from the defeats they suffered, significantly in the Confederation Cup final.
FADLU DAVIDS ON HIS ORLANDO PIRATES STINT
“It’s a huge opportunity to coach at a club like Pirates where you’ll face teams in the continent,” he told the media.
“Getting to the CAF Confederation Cup final with the was a huge achievement.
“Not winning it, as a coach you grow by these matches especially when you don’t win.
“And of course just the organisation, the institution that Pirates is, not only myself as a coach but I’m sure for every player that plays there.
“And you learn on each journey, the last cup final for Maritzburg United in the Nedbank Cup was also huge.
“It was a huge learning curve although we didn’t win it but as a coach, those matches that you do not win are the ones that you probably learn from the most.
“I’m grateful to the chairman for giving me that opportunity.”
The 41-year-old coach recently returned to Maritzburg and was tasked to save the club from relegation.
The KZN outfit has since played five games under his watch. They have won three and lost two and are currently in position 14 on the log standings.
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