Ncikazi vows to protect Pirates after controversial departure

Golden Arrows coach Mandla Ncikazi says he has no intention of criticising former club Orlando Pirates, insisting that his responsibility is to protect the teams he works for.

Ncikazi left Pirates a few weeks ago in circumstances that appeared controversial before joining Arrows. The KwaZulu-Natal-born coach spent five years in Johannesburg with the Buccaneers, winning several trophies, including the league title last season.

He has since succeeded Simo Dladla as head coach of Abafana Bes’thende. Ncikazi was asked about his relationship with Abdeslam Ouaddou, under whom he worked as an assistant at Pirates, following Arrows’ 1-0 defeat by Mamelodi Sundowns in the Carling Knockout quarter-finals at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday.

The 55-year-old responded by saying he would not discuss any problems from his time at Pirates in public.

“Guys, for the future, as a principle and as a man of my age, you don’t talk ill about your former employer because you offend them. Equally the same when I start talking about my former employer, I am offending my current employer,” said Ncikazi at the post-match press conference.

“Every house has a toilet.

“As a man, you don’t have the responsibility of telling every family that there are challenges in your family. Mina I am just a man.

“Even if there was a problem, you are not gonna know because I am a man, I have got a responsibility to protect the environment I work for, irrespective of the environment. In every club I have worked for, there are issues, but I don’t have a responsibility to publicly tell.”

Ncikazi added that coaches must safeguard the clubs they represent, regardless of any internal difficulties.

“As a coach, you are a CEO of the company so protect the environment,” he said.

His comments came after Pirates’ decision to part company with him, an exit that prompted questions about his relationship with the club and Ouaddou. Ncikazi has chosen not to elaborate on the circumstances surrounding his departure.

He will face his former club soon, with Arrows scheduled to visit Pirates at the Orlando Amstel Arena on 28 November.

That fixture is expected to be moved forward by four days, however, because defending champions Pirates are due to begin their CAF Champions League group-stage campaign that weekend.