Orlando Pirates Football Club have confirmed 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.
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.
Club Chairman Dr Irvin Khoza thanked Ncikazi and acknowledged his ambition to return to head coaching.
“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.
For Ncikazi, the departure is also an opportunity to acknowledge the people with whom he shared his time at Pirates.
