Orlando Pirates interim coach Mandla Ncikazi has provided an update on his status as the 2024/25 season draws to a close.
Stepping in after Jose Riveiro's exit, Ncikazi, whose current contract with the Buccaneers extends to the end of the 2025/26 season, will be in charge of the side until the end of the season.
He has made it clear he intends to continue his service to the club unless directly told otherwise, despite the imminent appointment of a new head coach.
‘I’LL ALWAYS BE THE SERVANT OF THIS CLUB’
“I’m wired differently, I’m working at Pirates, if I’m there, they are good enough, if I’m not there and it’s decided, they are still good enough,” said Ncikazi.
“I’m just proud of the contribution that I’m making at the club and being appreciated by the club.
“And as long as it’s still like that, I’ll always be the servant of this club until told otherwise.”
Looking back at the just-concluded season, Ncikazi expressed satisfaction with the team's significant growthand their impressive contention in every competition they participated in.
“I’m a smaller puzzle in a bigger picture, and how I’m wired, this has nothing to do with me, it’s mission,” Ncikazi added.
“When you are at Pirates, you are sent. You must fulfill the mission. But growth in the club, it depends how you look at it. I look at the positive side of life.
“The growth that has been mentioned, the narrowing of the gap [between Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns], the records that have been broken, the youngsters that have been introduced, those are positives.
“Yes, we fell short on some objectives that we wanted and one can only learn from that and improve going into the next season.”
