Orlando Pirates interim co-coach Mandla Ncikazi saw signs of improvement in Tuesday’s goalless draw with Marumo Gallants but admitted he was disappointed with the result.
The Buccaneers are still searching for their first win of the campaign after a 2-1 defeat to Swallows FC in the MTN8 and a 2-2 draw with Stellenbosch FC on the opening day of the Premiership season.
They were hoping to claim all three points on offer against Marumo but things didn’t go according to plan as the match ended goalless at Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Speaking to SuperSport TV after the match, Ncikazi said: “Disappointed with the result. When you look at the match and see how the opponent played they were playing with a low block.
“At the beginning of the season, you still have to get the rhythm as a team.
“Trying to fix certain things. But I never thought they would play that low. It suited their game.
“If we’re going to win matches we need to be more ruthless. We’re not going to create lots of chances when a team plays like that.”
Ncikazi continued: “First half we had a few half chances and a chance we did not take. I thought we would take a few from set plays, but the delivery was not in the right place but it’s a work in progress.
“I’m disappointed but I see the improvement a bit and the confidence in the team and how they circulate and protect the ball, but the result is not what we expected.
“Based on how the opponents were playing we had to try and pause a bit. We changed the formation that we started with and changed the personnel on top.
“I thought the changes had the effect but sometimes we lost the ball in areas where we need to be patient. Maybe the wrong pass, the wrong decision, the timing is not right in the final third.
“Maybe with time we will improve but like I said there is progress. There is confidence which is important to win.”
The Buccaneers will have the chance to avenge their loss to Swallows FC in the MTN8 when the two teams renew hostilities after the FIFA international break, with the match scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off on Saturday, 11th September.