“I Achieved Everything As A Coach” — Mandla Ncikazi Explains His Orlando Pirates Exit

Mandla Ncikazi has opened up about his decision to leave Orlando Pirates and return to Lamontville Golden Arrows, describing his time with the Buccaneers as a rewarding chapter filled with valuable experiences and achievements.

The experienced coach departed Pirates on 22 October 2026 after five years with the Soweto giants, where he served mainly as an assistant coach and briefly worked as co-coach. He has since returned to Golden Arrows to take charge of the KwaZulu-Natal side for a second spell as head coach.

Ncikazi’s departure was confirmed by Pirates after discussions with the club’s management. The club explained that he had expressed a desire to pursue another opportunity to lead a team, and management granted him its blessing to make the move.

Reflecting on the decision, Ncikazi said he approached the situation with gratitude rather than focusing on what others might think.

“I thought with gratitude, where I’m coming from, I think I achieved everything as a coach. I’m grateful to the big institution and all the memories,” he said, as reported by iDiski Times.

Ncikazi joined Pirates in June 2021 after previously making his mark at Golden Arrows. During his time at Mayfair, he worked alongside different head coaches, including Jose Riveiro and Abdeslam Ouaddou.

His period at the club coincided with a successful era for the Buccaneers, who collected nine trophies while he was part of the technical team. The silverware included four consecutive MTN8 titles, two Nedbank Cups, the Carling Knockout and the Betway Premiership title, among other honours.

He also experienced the pressure of leading one of the country's biggest clubs, including a spell as co-coach alongside Fadlu Davids during the 2021/22 campaign.

Pirates chairman Dr Irvin Khoza acknowledged Ncikazi’s contribution and wished him well in his next challenge.

“Mandla leaves with our gratitude and our blessing,” Khoza said, adding that the club respected his ambition to return to a head-coaching position.

Ncikazi is returning to familiar surroundings, having previously guided Arrows to a fourth-place finish in the 2020/21 league campaign, the club’s best-ever position in the top flight.

His new responsibility is to help the team rediscover consistency and build on its potential. Arrows have experienced an uneven start to the campaign, making his appointment an important opportunity to stabilise performances and restore confidence.

The coach has already spoken positively about returning to the club and the relationship he maintained with its leadership after leaving in 2021.

Source:

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