Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi asserts that their performance in the first-round loss to Cape Town City was subpar, and this time, they will have no excuses.

Pirates suffered a 1-0 defeat to Cape Town City at DHL Stadium on 8 January, in what was coach Muhsin Ertugral’s second match in charge following Eric Tinkler’s dismissal.

Despite creating opportunities, including a missed penalty by Patrick Maswanganyi, Pirates failed to capitalize.

Now, Pirates, currently second in the Betway Premiership table with 33 points from 14 matches, 12 points behind league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns (who have played three more games), will host Ertugral’s side at Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

“We are pleased to have had the opportunity to rest our players and recover (after our game against Golden Arrows was postponed due to rain at Mpumalanga Stadium on Wednesday),” Ncikazi said. “All opponents are challenging. We lost to them in Cape Town, but we were not adequately prepared. This time, we are prepared to secure three points at our home ground.”

Interestingly, City coach Ertugral, who is currently under pressure, previously managed Pirates during the 2016/17 season.

He famously resigned during a post-match television interview on SuperSport after the Soweto Giants were defeated 6-0 by SuperSport United at Mbombela Stadium.

During his tenure at Pirates, Ertugral oversaw nine matches, winning three, drawing four, and losing two.