UQINISWE idolo ngokuthola isikimu umdlali we-Orlando Pirates, uNkanyiso “Pelembe” Zungu, odlale okokuqala kweZimnyama ngesikhathi zibambana ngo 0-0 neMamelodi Sundowns kowe-Absa Premiership ngoLwesibili.
UZungu, owakhulela kuMaZulu, ujoyine iPirates ngoJanuwari esuka kwiStellenbosch emuva kokuyisiza iwine iligi kwiNational First Division (NFD) ngesizini edlule. Ukulimala kuphoqe ukuthi ayibuke nabalandeli imidlalo yeqembu ngesikhathi efika. Emuva kokunika uZungu imizuzu embalwa bebhekene neSundowns, umqeqeshi wePirates uJosef Zinnbauer umnike ithemba lesikimu emidlalweni ezayo.
“UZungu ungumfana olungile. Uyakuqonda ukuthi iPirates iyiqembu elikhulu ongeke uthi ufika ungene ugijima esikimini. Uyakuqonda ukuthi kufanele ayisebenzele indawo yakhe. Emasontweni amabili adlule usebenze kanzima kakhulu. Akulula ukushintsha isikimu kimina kodwa uma esezethemba kahle uzongena esikimini esiqala imidlalo,” kusho uZinnbauer.
Ukungena esikimini kukaZungu kubukeka kungase kuqede indawo kubadlali okukhona kubona uXola Mlambo okuvela ukuthi ungomunye wabadlali abazochithwa kuleli qembu. IPirates kubikwa ukuthi isivele isayinise isitobha uThulani” Tyson” Hlatshwayo nomdlali wasezinhlangothini uDeon Hotto beBidvest Wits. UZinnbauer, ophumele obala ngokuthi ngeke besayiwina iligi, ungena ezintangeni ngabadlali abafunayo ukulungiselela isizini ezayo.
“Okwamanje awukaqali umsebenzi wangesizini ezayo. Sisabhekene nemidlalo eyisithupha esisalele kule sizini. Akukho okunye esikucabangayo,” kusho uZinnbauer.
IPirates izobuyela enkundleni ngoMgqibelo uma isibhekene neBidvest Wits kowePremiership e-Ellis Park Stadium ngo-6 ntambama.
IPirates inamaphuzu angu-41 emidlalweni ewu-24, yize uZinnbauer ekhuluma yokulungiselela izisini ezayo, isenalo ithuba lokulwela ukudlala kwiCaf ngesizini ezayo. Ingakwenza lokho ngokuqeda endaweni yesibili kwi-log nokungasho ukudlala kwiChampions League noma iqede endaweni yesithathu okungayifaka kwiConfederation Cup.