Mandla Ncikazi leaves Orlando Pirates to become PSL head coach

Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi is leaving the club to take up a head coach position with another team in the Premier Soccer League.

The 57-year-old’s departure was confirmed by Pirates on Thursday after he held discussions with the club’s management earlier in the day. The club has not disclosed the identity of his next employer.

Ncikazi told Pirates that he wanted to return to a head coaching role, and the Soweto club said it had given him its approval to pursue the opportunity.

“Orlando Pirates Football Club confirms 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 club said in a statement published on its official website.

“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.”

Ncikazi departs after contributing to nine trophy successes during his time on the Pirates technical team. He worked mainly as an assistant coach, although he also had a short spell as co-coach in 2025.

“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,” Pirates added.

Club chairman Dr Irvin Khoza thanked Ncikazi for his service and said the club respected his decision to accept a new challenge.

“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,” Khoza said.

The announcement follows reports linking Ncikazi with a possible return to Golden Arrows, where he previously worked as head coach. Pirates have not confirmed whether Golden Arrows is the club he will join.

Ncikazi’s exit ends his period as part of the Pirates coaching staff, where he was predominantly employed as an assistant and helped the club secure 9 trophies. The club’s statement did not provide details of when his new appointment would be formally announced.