Orlando Pirates announced the shock departure of assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi on Thursday afternoon, bringing an end to his five-year spell at the club.
Ncikazi provided the Buccaneers’ technical staff with a grounded local presence, serving as a key assistant under foreign coaches José Riveiro and current head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.
He also stepped up briefly as caretaker head coach following Riveiro’s departure at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
During his time in Soweto, the 57-year-old was involved in a remarkable silverware run, helping the club secure eight major trophies.
Five of those came alongside Riveiro as Pirates completed back-to-back-to-back triumphs in the MTN8 and a Nedbank Cup double.
Ncikazi remained an integral component of the backroom team last season, helping Ouaddou guide the Sea Robbers to a domestic treble.
With Pirates neck-and-neck with Sundowns in the title race and chasing silverware on multiple fronts, Ncikazi’s departure leaves a massive void right in the heat of the campaign.
Buccaneers chairman Irvin Khoza confirmed the club gave the veteran coach their full blessing to leave the club and return to a head-coaching role. Ouaddou will certainly feel his absence though as Ncikazi gave him a vital local perspective on the PSL.
The experienced tactician is now set to return to Golden Arrows for another spell as head coach. Ncikazi previously enjoyed success with Abafana Bes’thende, leading them to a club-record fourth-place finish in the 2020/21 DStv Premiership season before joining Pirates in June 2021.
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