Orlando Pirates confirm coach’s departure

Orlando Pirates have announced the departure of assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi who departs the club to take up a new job in the Premier Soccer League.

Nckikazi has been at Pirates since 2021, first working as head coach, before serving as assistant to ex-boss Jose Riveiro and now under Abdeslam Ouaddou.

However, early this week, speculation linked him with the Golden Arrows job where head coach Pitso Dladla is under pressure after overseeing just one win in eight games at the club.

Now, Pirates have confirmed Ncikazi’s departure, coming just hours after Ouaddou dismissed reports that there has been a fallout between the two.

Pirates praise Ncikazi as he leaves

“Orlando Pirates Football Club confirms that Assistant Coach Mandla Ncikazi will be leaving the Club to take up the Head Coach position at a team in the Premier Soccer League,” Pirates said via a statement.

“The move follows discussions with management this morning in which Mr Ncikazi expressed his wish to pursue the opportunity to lead a team again. The Club has given him its blessing to do so.

“Mr Ncikazi departs with 9 trophies earned as part of the Pirates technical team, where he served predominantly as Assistant Coach, including a brief spell as co-coach in 2025. Throughout this period he represented the Club with distinction.”

Pirates chairman Dr Irvin Khoza thanked Ncikazi and acknowledged his ambition to return to head coaching.

Is the tactician returning to Arrows?

“Mandla leaves with our gratitude and our blessing. His contribution to Orlando Pirates has been evident throughout his time with us. We respect his wish to pursue this new opportunity and wish him success as he takes on a new responsibility,” said Dr Khoza.

If he ends up at Arrows, the 57-year-old would not be new to Abafana Besthende as he previously coached them between 2020 and 2021 before joining Pirates.

Ncikazi just returned to the Pirates dugout this month, having missed the first few games of the season following a knee procedure carried out during pre-season.