A sinking Pirates ship is bad for the local game
THIS is not how it is supposed to be. Orlando Pirates’ standing is such that they should be dominating local football. Going without silverware for seasons on end should not be happening to the Buccaneers.
After all, the club whose followers swear by the skull and crossbones insignia is synonymous with success.
They have been trendsetters in the local game, the first outfit to get a sponsor and most remarkably the maiden continental club champions from sub-saharan Africa.
That they are to go yet another season without domestic silverware must hurt like crazy for their many loyal supporters.
And the older ones among The Ghost must be wondering just what has happened to their club’s fearless leader, football’s Iron Duke Irvin Khoza.
How is it, they must be wondering, that their chairman seems to be so tolerant of mediocrity?
After all, wasn’t it that when those tasked with ensuring the club’s fortunes failed to deliver, they were shown the door quicker than you could say ‘Up the Bucs’?
And often that happened in unsavoury ways police cars escorting said coach from a match venue.
Back then the phrase ‘we couldn’t guarantee the coach’s safety’ almost always followed a technical head’s departure.
And you will surely remember that not just anyone got to occupy the coaching seat at Ezimnyama kamagebhula.
To lead Pirates you had to be a coach worth his salt, a seasoned practitioner of football’s most thankless task. Those who came in from outside the country were thoroughly scrutinised and brought with them pedigree of sorts.
That, though, was then.
Now, well … who is the Pirates coach?
Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids are the Buccaneers’ co-coaches. And while it would be unfair to place the blame on them for the club’s poor season that will see them going trophyless on the domestic front once again, such is the nature of the beautiful
game that the buck stops with the technical head.
And the reality is that while they are among the country’s promising coaches, Ncikazi and Davids are just not cutting it at Pirates.
When the season began, expectations were for Pirates to contend for championship glory, the club having beefed up an already strong squad with talent.
But some 10 matches before the league season’s conclusion and the Bucs’ title chances are slim to none, and slim has long left town.
They lost out on the MTN8 and the midweek Nedbank Cup defeat via shoot-outs from the penalty spot by Marumo Gallants meant the only competition they can win is the CAF Confederation Cup. And given their domestic showing, there is nothing to give confidence that they can conquer on the continent.
Pirates are a big club, a historic outfit that requires anyone who associates with them to know their story. A Pirates coach should know that there is no time to build for the future. Results should be produced immediately, and results mean silverware.
Ncikazi and Davids have failed to do that and they are very lucky that they have joined Pirates at a time when fans are not allowed at match venues. For they would have long ensured the wrath of The Ghost.
One also feels that the duo are fortunate that age seems to have mellowed the Iron Duke whose patience with them appears somewhat uncharacteristic.
It is patience that has got many Pirates fans up in arms, some feeling as though their club’s boss is focused more on matters of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) that he is chairman of, than Pirates.
That could well be. But surely Khoza must be just as pained by the club’s poor showing.
It could be that he has decided to give the local lads enough chance to prove themselves, Pirates and their rivals Kaizer Chiefs having long been accused by many among us of lacking confidence in local coaches.
While I believe that Ncikazi and Davids are just not cut out for and ready to lead a club as big as Pirates, I am also of the view that the current players are not pulling their weight enough.
There was a time when donning the famous black and white jersey was a privilege enjoyed by few. And when you got that opportunity, players ensured that they proved themselves worthy.
Lately, it does not seem to be the case, with the current lot appearing not to be aware of the blood, sweat and tears that went into building the brand that is Orlando Pirates.
Defeats don’t seem to bother them much and I wonder if the Iron Duke still has the time to address the players about what it means to be a Buccaneer like he used to.
Granted Mamelodi Sundowns should be applauded for working very hard to be the dominant force that they are in local football. But a weaker Pirates no doubt makes things easier for the Brazilians to reign supreme.
It is a pity that we continue to go without fans in the stadium for I suspect things would be a little different were Pirates playing in front of The Ghost.
Pirates are a big brand. The Beautiful Game will be poorer with their demise.