Mandla Ncikazi content with any long-term role at Orlando Pirates
HOPING FOR MORE Mandla Ncikazi is aiming for a long-term role with Orlando Pirates, reflecting on the team's growth and ambitions following José Riveiro's departure. Picture: Sibonelo Ngcobo/Independent Newspapers
Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo/Independent Newspapers
In the wake of José Riveiro’s departure as Orlando Pirates coach, Mandla Ncikazi is hoping he will remain in a key role for the club next season.
Riveiro left the club early ahead of the expiration of his contract, meaning Ncikazi was charged to lead the team as interim coach for the last four games of their Betway Premiership campaign.
There is still one league match remaining for Pirates, but it will not affect their final position on the log.
In fact, since Riveiro left, Pirates have earned five points of a possible nine but it mattered little as the Soweto Giants had just about secured their runner-up finish behind Mamelodi Sundowns.
Ncikazi Reflects on Pirates’ Season: Commitment, Growth, and Future Ambitions
After Pirates’ 1-1 draw with AmaZulu over the weekend, Ncikazi said: “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.
“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 I’m told otherwise.”
Though it seems that Ncikazi will not continue as head coach as an assistant role is more likely, the 56-year-old was committed to catch Sundowns who have now won the last eight league titles in a row.
“I’m a smaller puzzle in a bigger picture, and how I’m wired, this has nothing to do with me, it’s a mission. When you are at Pirates, you are sent. You must fulfil the mission. But growth in the club depends on 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.”