Ouaddou rejects ‘invented’ rumours of Ncikazi rift at Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has rejected reports of a breakdown in his relationship with assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi, saying there are no problems within the club’s technical team.

Speculation about tension between the two coaches emerged before Pirates’ next fixture, leading to questions about Ncikazi’s absence.

Ouaddou pointed to a statement issued by the club, which confirmed that Ncikazi had undergone surgery and was recovering. The Moroccan coach said he had nothing further to add beyond wishing his colleague well.

“The club issued a statement about that, he had surgery, so now he’s recovering, I wish him all the best, that’s all I can say,” Ouaddou said.

The Pirates manager was more critical when asked about the wider reports, accusing some media outlets of creating a dispute where he believed none existed.

“We read many things about that, everything is okay in our club, the environment is okay, so people must not start to create any problems. There is surgery and I wish him the best, not to create problems. I read many things.”

Ouaddou also referred to a recent affectionate exchange between himself and Ncikazi, questioning why it had been interpreted as evidence of a difficult relationship.

“Someone who is kissing someone on his head, you cannot start to invent any stories.”

His comments were intended to end speculation that the pair had fallen out. Ouaddou maintained that Ncikazi’s absence was connected to his recovery from surgery and not to disagreement within the Pirates coaching staff.

The coach’s remarks came after the club’s official communication about Ncikazi’s operation, which he said should have settled the matter.

Ouaddou said the reports had created unnecessary discussion around the technical team and insisted that the atmosphere at Orlando Pirates remained positive.

With the club preparing for its upcoming fixtures, he made clear that he did not want speculation about Ncikazi to distract from the team’s work.

Ncikazi was described in the reports as Ouaddou’s assistant coach and is also referred to as his now former deputy. However, Ouaddou’s public comments focused on the surgery and recovery, while denying that the change in his colleague’s availability was the result of a personal or professional dispute.