League is a marathon, not a sprint - Makhanya

Orlando Pirates coach Joseph Makhanya has warned his charges that they will need to be consistent if they are to challenge for the DStv Diski Challenge title.

The Buccaneers have not displayed convincing performances so far this season. Nevertheless, there is still time for them to better their performance and chase the leading pack of Cape Town teams: Cape Town City and Stellenbosch FC.

Their recent win over Gallants moved them to fifth position in the Diski Challenge standings with 15 points.

They are five points behind the early pacesetters.

“I feel that our confidence is coming up nicely. We first started by making sure that we have a good team to compete and now we need to be consistent in our performances,” Makhanya said after their victory over Gallants.

This past weekend Pirates thumped Marumo Gallants 4-1 to register their first-ever back-to-back victories this season.

“We never won games back to back. This was our first back-to-back win this season. Now it is our job as coaches to keep these boys grounded. We have to remind them that this is a marathon. It requires consistency.

Makhanya added: “You cannot win one match and relax, let’s go get the third win and the fourth win so that winning becomes part of our system. In that case we will be able to close the gap and catch up with the teams above us.”

Concluded the former player: “Building a team is a bit of a process; sometimes goals will come sometimes they will not. We have not been clinical this season but it will come. We are creating good movements but we need to be clinical.”

The Buccaneers’ next test is against two-time Diski Challenge champions Golden Arrows at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Saturday.

The kickoff is at 11am CAT.