“Pirates Not Relying On Past Wins Against Sundowns”
Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi says the team won’t rely on past victories against Mamelodi Sundowns as a guarantee of success in their upcoming top-of-the-table clash. Instead, he emphasized the importance of performing on the day.
Pirates and Sundowns are set to meet at Loftus Stadium on Saturday afternoon in what promises to be a crucial match in the Betway Premiership standings.
Sundowns currently lead the table with 39 points from 14 matches, six points ahead of second-placed Pirates, who have played one game fewer. A win for Pirates would be vital in closing the gap and leveling the playing field as they head into the second half of the season. This is their first league meeting of the current campaign.
Pirates hold a psychological edge, having defeated Sundowns in two cup finals last season: the MTN8 final on penalties in Durban and the Nedbank Cup final in June. However, Ncikazi stressed that these past results are irrelevant.
“It’s a very unique preparation, where you hardly touch the field,” Ncikazi said, referring to the team’s quick turnaround after recent wins against Kaizer Chiefs and Sekhukhune United.
“But it is important to prepare the right way. It’s one of the games where the prize is still three points, one of the games where we still use analysis of what they are doing and what we want to do. The game plan from the coach is the same that will be prominent in our players. We just want to perform.”
“The previous encounters where we have overcome the opponents…we cannot use that,” Ncikazi continued. “We just have to play the match on Saturday so that we get three points, and that’s all we need it for.”
Both teams recently reached the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League, highlighting their strength. Historically, the rivalry has been closely contested. In their last 52 meetings, Sundowns have won 22, Pirates 17, with 13 draws. Saturday’s game is a sold-out affair, with tickets having been snapped up last week.
