Why Orlando Pirates Should Look Within: The Case For Mandla Ncikazi As Head Coach

With Orlando Pirates on the search for a new head coach following the announcement that Jose Riveiro will be leaving at the end of the season, a number of names have been mentioned as his possible successor.

Perennial title winner Pitso Mosimane has been the name on everyones lips . Jingles is currently jobless after leaving his last club, and a move to Pirates would seem logical.

A name that you wont see mentioned among the front runners, but deserves to be, is that of Mandla Ncikazi, who is currently the assistant coach at the Buccaneers.

Over the last decade, Ncikazi has quietly built his career at Golden Arrows, Maritzburg United, and now Orlando Pirates . In that time, he has served as assistant coach to the likes of Steve Komphela, Josef Zinnbauer, and Riveiro. He will surely have picked up a lot from them.

During his brief spell as Maritzburg coach back in 2015, Ncikazi showed he did have the tactical acumen to succeed. The main reason he failed in that job was the lack of quality players on the clubs roster, as well as a high number of injuries.