Maritzburg United coach Fadlu Davids says having worked at Orlando Pirates before won’t help his cause because the club has a new coach and new system.
Davids will face his former employers at Orlando Stadium at 19:30 today for the first time since he left them the Buccaneers at the end of the last season, where he worked as co-coaches Mandla Ncikazi.
They were appointed together after German coach Jose Zinnbauer suddenly left the club in August last year.
They led Pirates to the CAF Confederation Cup final, but lost to Moroccan side RSB Berkane on penalties and missed out on CAF qualification in their final game.
Afterwards Davids opted for a new challenge, while Ncikazi stayed behind and became one of the assistants of Spanish head coach Jose Riveiro.
However, on Friday, Davids returns to Orlando where his new side Maritzburg have not defeated the Soweto giants since December 2014 when Mohamed Anas scored twice when Steve Komphela’s side shocked Vladimir Vermezovic’s men.
Davids, though, insisted it will not be an advantage to face his former club, due to all the changes that happened at the Sea Robbers since he left.
“No, it won’t be,” he hastily answered when asked if it would give him advantage to have been there before and know the majority of the players.
“There is a new dynamic, there is a new system they are playing [mostly three at the back, overloading the middle with five].
“I know the players well of course, I know the club well, but we still have to analyze their matches and see how we approach the game.”
Also, Davids will face Ncikazi on the sidelines as Riveiro is suspended after he was red carded in the Nedbank Cup last-32 win over All Stars over the weekend.
Ncikazi also worked with Davids at Maritzburg in the 2015/16 season, when the former was the head coach. But he was sacked when the club failed to win any of their five opening matches.
Davids’ technical team is also made up of people who worked at Pirates, such as Darian Wilken (his assistant) and goalkeeper coach Wayne Sandilands.
Maritzburg, unlike Pirates, go to the game having lost to Kaizer Chiefs in the Ke Yona Cup last-32, though Davids was impressed with the way they went about their business, saying that game will prepare the war of the league to survive the axe.
The Team of Choice is second from bottom with 21 points after 19 matches.
Reflecting on his time at Pirates, Davids said “it was a huge opportunity to have coached at the club like Pirates.”
“We were facing teams from the continent, getting into the CAF Confed Cup final was a huge achievement,” added Davids.
“Not winning it as a coach, you grow. But of course the organization, the institution that Pirates is – not only for myself as a coach, but I’m sure every player that plays there (knows what a huge honour it is). You learn, and each journey you learn.”
Unfortunately, Maritzburg will be without Travis Graham who was sent off against Chiefs following a wild challenge to Mdu Shabalala.
