Ngobe bemoans fall from grace
CONCERN: NO TROPHIES IN CABINET
The change expected at Orlando Pirates is highly anticipated with thousands of the club’s supporters keenly waiting to see what their team brings them next season. The mighty Buccaneers finished a second season without a trophy.
Former Pirates midfielder Dumisani Ngobe is just one of the thousands who had their hearts broken last season and he told
Phakaaathi what he feels needs to change for the team to return to their glory days.
“It is heartbreaking to see the club like this, we can’t hide the feeling,” Ngobe told Phakaaathi yesterday. “The dignity of the club is what matters most. We need a solution to this matter quickly. A club as big as Pirates are not used to going a season without winning anything.”
Ngobe said it had been painful watching the team fall from grace – going from an all-conquering side who won three domestic cups in a row to becoming the league’s whipping boys who couldn’t even manage a top eight finish last season.
“This is a big a concern and Pirates’ supporters are not happy about this. The players need to restore the culture of the team, which is to ensure there is always a trophy at the end of every season,” Ngobe says.
With the club about to start with a clean slate, Ngobe is adamant there is a need for a change in personnel, particularly in defence where he thinks the team are struggling most and believes new signing Thamsanqa Sangweni will be a big boost.
“Our defence has been poor. We need to get fresh players who will help out. We don’t even have depth at the back, because once one of the regulars gets injured or suspended, there is a problem,” he added.
“The club needs to look at players who are playing in the National First Division. There are lots of talented players in that division who can fit in at Pirates.
“We’ve signed a good a midfielder in Sangweni. I think he will add a lot of value to the team. I would like to see him team up with Abbubaker Mobara in central midfield and allow Oupa Manyisa to play in front of them as a No 10,” suggested the former Pirates star.
“This is what needs to happen.”