Orlando Pirates interim coach Mandla Ncikazi has termed their 2024-25 season a great success despite falling short of league and CAF Champions League glory.
Pirates ended their season with a 1-1 draw at home to Magesi FC when Edmore Chirambadare cancelled out Patrick Maswanganyi’s seventh minute strike on Wednesday evening.
That saw the Buccaneers complete the campaign with 61 points and 19 wins, the most since 2003, although it was not enough to win the league as Mamelodi Sundowns won it with 73 points.
Pirates ended the season with one trophy
Pirates completed what looked to be a promising season with just the MTN8, having lost the Nedbank Cup final to bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs, while they came close to Champions League final only to lose to Egyptian side Pyramids in the semi-final and Ncikazi feels there is very little to be disappointed about.
“The biggest lesson is that you can’t get so many chances and you don’t score. They [Magesi] had one chance, one transition. It is a lesson but there are so many positives from the setup,” Ncikazi told SuperSport TV.
“A lot of young players got the exposure, at least now we have got the information where to improve, where to go from here.
Why is Mandla Ncikazi thrilled by 2024-25?
“There are a lot of positives than negatives if you look at our team from the game perspective, competing in Africa, just one moment semi-final we could have gone into the final and maybe win it.
“Nedbank, we got into the final, I don’t think there is any team that has introduced so many youngsters in their setup. So many players are in the national team. Just wish we grow from here.”
Pirates will now have to regroup and lay down a strategy of how to conquer next season but first, they must find a coach, after the very popular Jose Riveiro ended his three-year stint early this month for a new job believed to be Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
The club is reported to have already agreed a deal to sign midfielder Masindi Nemtajela from Marumo Gallants with Sihle Nduli of Stellenbosch also in their sights.
