Bafana Bafana legend Sibusiso Zuma has picked Mandla Ncikazi as a quiet figure, operating from the backstage and making instrumental contributions to Orlando Pirates’ 2025/26 domestic treble success.
The Buccaneers sealed a treble after claiming the MTN8 and Carling Knockout Cup, as well as the biggest prize in South African football, the Betway Premiership title. Under the tutelage of head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, the Soweto giants ended a 14-year wait for the PSL title.
Ouaddou managed that feat in his first season with Pirates and, in the process, broke Mamelodi Sundowns’ relentless eight-season dominance in the league. When the Moroccan was appointed as Pirates’ coach in June 2025, he retained most of the backroom staff who had helped his predecessor, Jose Riveiro.
Among the technical staffers left behind by Riveiro was Mandla Ncikazi, whom Ouaddou opted to work with as his first assistant coach. Ncikazi has been at the Buccaneers since July 2021, when he briefly worked with Josef Zinnbauer.
The 57-year-old was then co-coach with Fadlu Davids before assisting Riveiro, and then became Ouaddou’s trusted lieutenant.
ZUMA ON MANDLA NCIKAZI’S ROLE IN ORLANDO PIRATES’ TREBLE-WINNING SEASON
“It’s not just Ouaddou. You have to look at the whole of his team, the technical team. You have guys like Mandla Ncikazi, who has been at Pirates for a long time and understands the culture of the club and their winning mentality,” Zuma said in conversation with FARPost.
“Not much is said about Ncikazi, and he quietly does his business, but when you have someone like that, you have an advantage. Ouaddou has a huge advantage on his bench.
“Most of the time, you could see him and Mandla working on things. The work Ncikazi has put in cannot be underestimated. You can see the man running around behind the scenes to get things done.
“They have a good working relationship with Ouaddou, and that is important and also explains what Pirates achieved this season. There is also the physical trainer [Helmy Gueldich] and other guys in that technical team. Look at the speed at which Pirates play. They have very fit players.
“What players like [Oswin] Appollis, Rele [Mofokeng], [Tshepang] Moremi, [Thalente] Mbatha and [Sipho] Chaine did was amazing, very incredible. It shows you there is a hardworking technical team at Pirates.
“If this good working relationship, especially between Ncikazi and Ouaddou, stays like this, Pirates will continue winning trophies.”
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