Photo Credit - Orlando Pirates Football Club.
Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi has promised a quick response from their 2-0 Betway Premiership defeat against Marumo Gallants at Free State Stadium on Saturday.
Pirates' aspirations of challenging rivals Mamelodi Sundowns for the title took a hit as they suffered their fourth loss of the campaign, leaving them 18 points adrift of Sundowns, albeit with four games in hand.
Former Pirates striker Gabadinho Mhango opened the scoring in the 15th minute, converting from a free kick before the Buccaneers’ struggles deepened further in the 74th minute when midfielder Thalente Mbatha turned the ball into his own net for the second.
Asked whether Pirates had lost hope on challenging Sundowns for the league title, Ncikazi told reporters as quoted by Sowetan: “I wouldn't want to look at it that way [that the 18-point gap is too big to close]. Let's win our games and I think the race is still on.
"That's football for you...there's no guaranteed outcome. I am sure we have lessons that we have learned from this game. We will do the normal, analyse [how they lost] as we also do when we won. I am sure this team is big enough to come back from such a result.”
He concluded: “Our offensive surveillance has to improve...we're working on it but if it still gives the transitions that we had today, there's more that needs to be done in that department. If we take the chances that we create, I think we will be back on track.”
Pirates will next face Chippa United at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Wednesday.
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