Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi says Mamelodi Sundowns shop at Woolworths and they buy at Pick n Pay and Spar in reference to the difference in quality.
The CAF Confederation Cup semi-finalists currently sit in fourth place, 18 points behind the champions who wrapped up their fifth consecutive league crown with four games to spare.
And after their 0-0 draw to Chippa United at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening, Pirates have now had stalemates in 50% of their 2021/22 league fixtures.
Coach Ncikazi was asked what it would take to stop Sundowns’ dominance next season, to which he suggested the playing fields aren’t level after the pandemic.
“We must cap the… finances [and have] financial fair play because Covid has affected a lot of teams, whether it’s supporters, in terms of revenue and most teams have been affected but Sundowns have not been affected,” he said in the post-match press conference.
“Some teams are playing with development players, getting young players. Most developments were closed, SAFA was closed but Sundowns buys at Woolworths, and we buy at Pick n Pay and Spar.
“If Spar and Pick n Pay are closed we can’t buy, I think it’s a scenario like that, they buy what’s ready, maybe that’s the difference – we just need to be competitive.”
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In what appeared to be light-hearted banter, the former Golden Arrows mentor stated that injuries proved to be an achilles heel in their season and warned that the institution is too big to be playing second-fiddle to Masandawana for much longer, citing the stages of success with the likes of Manchester United.
“Pirates are not far off, maybe if we weren’t as unfortunate with injuries we had that weren’t based on muscle injuries, 13 players were injured this season and all of a sudden, you have to try and integrate these players,” he continued.
“There were many challenges, it’s not an excuse but I don’t think it will be the same season next season. This is going to change, it can’t be like this forever, it’s going to change. How it’s going to happen? I can guarantee you it won’t be the same. All teams go through a slump, Manchester United are going through that and they will rise at some point.
“Pirates have had a slump, we’ll rise again. We have to find our own mechanisms, what is it that is the real problem. If it’s the coaches, they must do the right thing, if it’s other things that are not right, it must be sorted. But we must be realistic – what is it that’s the real problem that needs to improve.”
Pirates will be aiming to get back to winning ways when they face TS Galaxy in the league on Monday afternoon at Mbombela Stadium before their 1st leg semi-final against Al Ahli Tripoli in Libya on Sunday.
