Menzi Magubane
Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi said he takes all the blame for the club’s failure in the CAF Confederation Cup final on Friday.
The Buccaneers dominated the match against RSB Berkane but they missed many opportunities to score, ultimately losing 5-4 on penalties after drawing the game with one goal apiece.
“When the team doesn’t win, it’s the coach’s fault. It’s our responsibility. So, I take the blame. I’m the one who is not helping the team to win matches,” said Ncikazi.
The coach said there is no excuse for his team’s defeat.
“Currently the team is not scoring and it is the coach’s responsibility. We lost the final, a match we shouldn’t have lost,” he said.
“We should have won the match in regular time. We created many chances and dominated the match but we didn’t do what is most important, which is putting the ball in the net. It’s the story of our season.”
Since Ncikazi and his partner Fadlu Davids took over after Josef Zinnbauer resigned in August, they have been under pressure from the club’s supporters.
Returning with a Confederation Cup trophy in Nigeria would have brought smiles, not only to Pirates fans, but to all South Africans.
Pirates have three matches left in the DStv Premiership and they still have a chance to qualify for the Champions League for next season if they win them all.
On Tuesday they hosted Maritzburg United in their first match after the heartbreak.
On Friday they visit Royal AM, who are also Champions League hopefuls and next Monday they end with a match against SuperSport United.
Image source: @iDiskiTimes
