Orlando Pirates FC: Photo Credit: Orlando Pirates FC.
Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi insists his side did not deserve to lose 2-0 to Marumo Gallants on Saturday in a Betway Premiership match.
Ncikazi, who was standing in for his suspended boss Jose Riveiro, said this after the game at Free State Stadium where goals from ex-Pirates striker Gabadinho Mhango and Thalente Mbatha's own goal sealed the points for the hosts.
Reflecting on the match, the Pirates assistant coach said his side created enough chances to win. "We were in control before we conceded the first goal from a tame set-piece by our standard. I don't think we deserved to lose the first half. In the second half, we dominated the way you expect us to play then we conceded from a transition.
"Honestly, in terms of the game, I don't think we deserved to lose if you count the number of chances we created. We lost the match because the intensity of the opponents was higher than us,” he told SuperSport TV.
Ncikazi stood in for his boss Riveiro who was suspended after a spat with a referee in a game against Cape Town City. In the other camp, Abdeslam Ouaddou was in charge of Gallants after the sacking of Dan Malesela. In a post-match interview, the new man praised his charges for executing the game plan well.
“I saw that this team conceded 30 goals. It is too much when you concede such goals, you cannot wish to stay in the PSL. When somebody is sick, you try to find treatment. The first thing was to strengthen the defence to have a foundation then we are going to budding from there,” he said.
Gallants avenged the 8-1 loss suffered to Pirates in the first leg to move two places up to 13th position.
Comments