Under Milutin Sredojevic and Rhulani Mokwena, Orlando Pirates are in the process of rebuilding, following some disappointing results and statistics in recent seasons.
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Although Pirates are with a chance of competing with Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs for the league title this season, talk in the Bucs' camp has always been about taking each game as it comes.
Speaking to the media this week, Mokwena compared Pirates' plans to those of the other teams.
"I've heard even the other coaches of the two other teams speak of process. When you are ahead in your process, you are ahead… you've started a few years before the others. You, generally, should have the advantage," said the Pirates assistant coach.
"We are talking about the process uptown that started five seasons ago. The team, by virtue of being ahead of the process, should be able to walk away with the league title," he said.
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"We then have our neighbours who have started the process with their coach three seasons ago. When they speak of process, it should already indicate to you that they should have that advantage and therefore have a little bit more of a benefit in terms of trying to compete," added Mokwena.
So far this season, Sundowns have accumulated 40 points, Pirates are on 36 points, while Chiefs have 35 points on their tally.
"We aren't at that stage yet. We are only asking, not for time, but we are asking for a little bit of leeway and space to be able to build this team so that at the time when you guys (media) are asking whether we are competitive or not, whether we are title chasers or not, we can sit with you and not play games with you and say, 'We are competing'.
"At this moment in time, we are not at that stage yet. We are building a team. We are building something that we want to last for years and years and years. That has got its own process. You can't short-circuit it. You've got to build the game model, and when you have to build the game model, you've got other technical elements that you've got to consider. That's where we are and it's not going to happen in one season. It needs a little bit more time.
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"At the same time, we understand that the supporters want results. As much as you are rebuilding, and you're trying to change the culture and the face of the football that is played at Orlando Pirates, the supporters want results. We are aware of that, but that does not shift our focus. Our focus is on the process, and our focus is on building a stronger team," concluded the tactician.
