Pirates Ready To Take On Sundowns In Battle For Supremacy
Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi has set his sights on a crucial win against Mamelodi Sundowns in their sold-out Betway Premiership clash at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.
The highly anticipated match kicks off at 15:30, with Pirates looking to cause an upset against the league leaders.
The Buccaneers and Sundowns have a rich history of competition, having faced each other twice in the semifinals of the MTN8 this season.
The two teams played out 1-1 draws in both legs, with Pirates ultimately emerging victorious on penalties in the second leg. Their last league encounter was in March last season, when Pirates won 2-1 at FNB Stadium.
However, the Buccaneers have struggled to replicate this success in away matches against Sundowns, with their last league win dating back to 2018 when they triumphed 3-1.
Pirates have played two PSL games since returning from the October FIFA international break, facing Polokwane City in the league and Magesi in the Carling Knockout.
In contrast, Sundowns have not played a league game since returning from the FIFA international break, with their match against Sekhukhune United being postponed.
The Brazilians currently top the log with 21 points from 10 games, while Pirates sit in fourth place with 18 points from eight games. A win for Pirates would see them level with
Sundowns on points, although the latter’s superior goal difference would keep them at the top of the table.
Despite this, Ncikazi remains focused on the task at hand, emphasizing the importance of his team’s performance.
“It’s another match that has got a value of three points, and we just have to look at our performance,” he said.
“We have to apply ourselves correctly, then get to the motivation in our team.
“We do that, we perform, and it doesn’t matter what happens to the opponent, but it becomes more about us for the performance, and the value of three points will definitely come to us.”
The former Golden Arrows’ comments suggest a team determined to take control of their destiny and secure a vital win against their arch-rivals.
With both teams boasting talented squads, Saturday’s match promises to be an exciting encounter.
