Orlando Pirates interim coach Mandla Ncikazi voiced his satisfaction with their 2024-2025 season, highlighting narrowing the gap with champions Mamelodi Sundowns and the introduction of many promising young stars as positive takeaways.
Last season, Pirates finished as runners-up, 23 points behind champions Sundowns. The season before second-placed Bucs were 16 points adrift of the now eight-time successive Premiership title-holders.
This season the gap could be 10 points, should Pirates win their last game of the season against Magesi FC at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday 7.30pm. Bucs only won the MTN8 this season, losing to Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup final and Pyramids FC in the Caf Champions League semifinals.
Bucs drew their penultimate game 1-1 against AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday. Pirates, still playing catch-up due to their continental schedule, and Magesi are the only side to have one more game to honour.
The growth that has been mentioned, the narrowing of the gap to Downs, the records that have been broken such as Bucs' most wins in a league season, 19, the youngsters that have been introduced, those are positives, Ncikazi said after the game in Durban.