Ncikazi apologises for Pirates' season

Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi has apologised to the Ghost for their disappointing end to the 2021/22 season, which saw them finish sixth on the log.

Pirates™ hopes of playing continental football next season were dashed when they lost 2-0 to SuperSport United in their DSTV Premiership season finale.

An own goal from Fortune Makaringe and a goal from the penalty spot by Zambian international Gamphani Lungu were enough to see Matsatsansa a Pitori finish the season on a high note as they sneaked into eighth position ahead of Golden Arrows.

Pirates required victory by five clear goals in order to leapfrog Royal AM into third spot and return to next season™s CAF Confederation Cup, in which they ended runners-up this season.

"Supporters and fans of Orlando Pirates, the management don't deserve [such an end to the season]. I think the result today summed up [what was] not a very successful season," conceded Ncikazi.

"One just has to apologise for such a season, there's no justification of anything. I don't think we are a bad team, I thought we created the better chances but the outcome is different but I don't even want to go there.

"The take-out is that we lost the match, [got] a red card, a re-take, whatever it was - at the end of the day, we lost the match and I'm disappointed."

By Velile Mnyandu