Ndaba Opens Up On Hotto Competition And League Title Race
Orlando Pirates left-back Nkosikhona Ndaba says it was crucial for him to quickly adapt to life at the club, where he is competing with Dion Hotto — a player who has rarely been left out by the coaches in recent seasons.
Hotto has made the left-back position his own and previously even clashed with former Pirates attacker Thembinkosi Lorch over selection issues, as he was consistently preferred in the starting line-up.
Ndaba joined Pirates from Richards Bay during the off-season and has featured in 10 matches so far, with coach Abdelsam Ouaddou occasionally opting to leave Hotto on the bench.
However, Ndaba has mostly been deployed in matches against lesser opposition, including the Nedbank Cup Round of 32 clash against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila at Moses Mabhida Stadium last weekend.
“I got my motivation when I arrived at the club,” said Ndaba.
“They told me the position I was coming into was very competitive, so it was important for me to adjust and learn from what he [Hotto] was doing.
“That helped me a lot because I was willing to listen.”
Pirates currently sit at the top of the Betway Premiership table with 38 points from 16 matches, six ahead of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, who have a game in hand.
Ndaba, who has already won two major trophies with the Soweto giants, says the team’s ambition is to win the league title — something the club has not achieved since the 2011/12 season.
“Every player this season wants to win the league,” he said.
“The coaches always motivate us and tell us that this is our year.”
Pirates face Sundowns in a top-of-the-table clash at FNB Stadium on Wednesday. The Buccaneers carry momentum into the encounter, having gone unbeaten against the Tshwane giants in their last four meetings, including three across all competitions this season.
A victory would open up a nine-point gap at the summit, potentially giving Pirates a significant advantage in the title race.
However, Ndaba insists the fixture will not decide the championship.
“There are still a lot of games to play. If we win, or if they win, it doesn’t mean the league is decided because there are many matches still to be played,” he said.
