Pirates eyeing first-ever Diski Challenge as title race heats-up

Orlando Pirates captain Ndumiso Ngiba says they have set their sights on becoming the first group to win the DStv Diski Challenge for the club.

Ngiba said they have put the last campaign's disappointment behind them as they want to clinch this season's reserve league title.

Last season Pirates came close to winning the league for the first time. They spent the better half of the campaign at the top of the table.

However, with around six or seven games to go, their wheels came off, and they were dethroned from the top spot and ended up finishing the season in disappointing position three.

The Soweto giants have never laid their hands on any of the Diski Challenge titles.

With six games remaining this season, Pirates are still within the title race, and they could win their first-ever league title if SuperSport United and Cape Town City FC slip up in the three-horse race.

SuperSport are leading the standings with 52 points, City are second with 51, and The Buccaneers are third with 50 points.

Ngiba said focusing on themselves rather than on other teams would be essential in the remaining six games.

"We have put what happened last season behind us. It happened and we are over it, it's in the past now. We are left with six games now and the focus is to take each games as it comes and get points," said Ngiba.

Losing the title at the end after dominating the whole season gave them valuable lessons, according to the skipper.

"Some of the lessons we learnt from last season was to ensure that we change and not have one-man show in the team. Last season it was Radiopane, Radiopane, Radiopane and today without Relebohile Ratomo [who is the club's leading goal scorer with nine goals] we were able to win the game," added Ngiba.

"Everyone in the team can score now and provide assist. The title race is tough now but we are not focusing on other teams. It will be huge to win the Diski Challenge, being the first group to win this for the club and chairman it would be great for us."

On Saturday Pirates host Royal AM in a league match at Rand Stadium.

Kick-Off is at 10:00 CAT.

Pirates would be hoping to get all three points to keep up with SuperSport and The Citizens in the title race.