Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi knows there will be no room for error when his side meets Magesi FC in a bottom vs top Betway Premiership encounter at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday evening (20:00).
Pirates are coming into the match on the back of a six match unbeaten run where they collected 14 points from a possible 18.
The hosts have endured inconsistent results in the same period, winning two and drawing one of their last six outings.
The result of this encounter is of high importance for both sides with the Buccaneers currently enjoying second spot on the table with 62 points.
A win for them won’t only mean equalling points with top placed Mamelodi Sundowns and staying in the running for the championship but they could continue breaking records of points, goals and clean sheets.
Magesi also cannot afford defeat as they sit at the foot of the table with 21 points from 27 games. They need to win and also hope for favourable results involving fellow relegation candidates Marumo Gallants and Orbit College to have a chance to save their top flight status.
Allan Freese’s side is already looking thin going into the game with two loanees from Pirates expected to sit the game out plus the suspension of Motsie Matima and Kgothatso Mariba possibly going to miss out because of injury.
Ncikazi knows how desperate both sides are for points and pleads for focus from his charges.
“It’s the stage of the season where all points are important,” said the coach on Orlando Pirates TV.
“Teams are looking for points for different reasons. The opponents are in the similar stage.
“We just have to focus on our process, analyze, tacticaly disciplined in the match, the confidence will be important, and then get the points and proceed with our journey.”
