Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi has said there are a number of lessons they can take from their goalless draw against Al Ittihad in the CAF Confederation Cup group stages on Sunday.
The 0-0 draw at the Orlando Stadium secured Pirates’ spot in the quarter-finals as Group B winners, but it was a frustrating game as the Libyans played for the draw, defending in numbers, and delaying time as much as possible.
A draw was enough to secure Al Ittihad’s second spot in the group, and they will join Pirates in Tuesday’s draw for the last eight.
When asked by iDiski Times journalist Rob Delport about the lessons they can take from playing against an opponent, intent on defending in a low block, Ncikazi said there is plenty they can study from this game.
“Rob, correctly, there’s lots of lessons,” Ncikazi replied in the post-match press conference. “In fact, what we faced today, I think almost the whole season in the PSL, we’re faced such, playing against a block.
“Sometimes then you have to vary your game, whether you go wide through wing play, other teams will close that, like this team today, they’re playing five across, six across, where they drop even wingers to play in the same line with defenders, then you have to try and be creative with your number tens in front of defenders, break the lines, take shots from range.
“I thought we were not as incisive today we were not as ruthless as we would have expected. But having said that, you’re still proud of the team, the fact that they dominated, they took charge.
“We wanted to win the match, we were one team that played to win, when (our) opponents were playing for a draw, and then their delaying tactics.”
