Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi has stressed the importance of securing all three points when they take on Chippa United this evening.
The Buccaneers are aiming to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat to Marumo Gallants in their previous match.
“It’s always important to respond positively after a setback. Nothing but three points will be acceptable when we travel to the Eastern Cape,” Ncikazi told the club’s media.
Despite limited time to prepare, Ncikazi remains confident that his team can achieve their goal.
“With such a quick turnaround, there’s not much we can do on the field-we only had one day to prepare. We focused on analyzing the previous match against Marumo before traveling to the Eastern Cape. But more than anything, we desperately need three points.”
The defeat to Gallants was a major setback for Pirates, who are hoping to narrow the gap between themselves and league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Currently, Pirates sit in second place on the league standings with 36 points from 16 games – a staggering 18 points behind Sundowns, who lead the table with 54 points from 20 matches.
Heading into the Chippa clash, the Sea Robbers will be boosted by the return of head coach Jose Riveiro, who was suspended for their previous match against Gallants.