Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi has heaped praise on in-form defender Bandile Shandu and hopes he can continue his current run of form in the Caf Confederation Cup.

The 27-year-old has been in sensational form for Pirates in the Caf Confederation Cup this campaign, already managing to find the back of the net four times in his first three Group B matches.

Shandu played a crucial role in helping the Buccaneers secure a comfortable 6-2 victory over Royal Leopards at the Mbombela Stadium and got his name on the scoresheet for the third consecutive match.

Ncikazi praised the defender’s contributions to the team’s success in the Consideration Cup, adding how proud he is of Shandu for being the top-scorer in this season’s competition.

“Shandu has been doing well. For a player who is playing in the position that he plays in to have scored so many goals, he’s in a good space. I just hope he continues doing that,” Ncikazi said at his post-match media conference.

“It’s important now going into the next matches [to consider] when to rotate and when to continue to playing him, and we have to manage that, but Shandu has been doing really well and we are proud of him.”

Orlando Pirates will now switch their focus to the DStv Premiership when they welcome Cape Town City to the Orlando Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, with kick-off set for 5:30pm.