Ncikazi refuses to discuss reported Ouaddou rift after Pirates departure

Mandla Ncikazi has declined to discuss reports of a disagreement with former Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, saying he has a responsibility to protect the dressing room and respect his former employer.

Ncikazi’s successful spell as Pirates assistant coach ended recently after he requested to leave the club and take over as head coach of Golden Arrows. He had served under Jose Riveiro before continuing in the role during Ouaddou’s tenure.

The coach departed with eight trophies, including the Betway Premiership title, but his exit was accompanied by speculation of tension between him and Ouaddou.

Ouaddou had publicly rejected suggestions that the pair had fallen out. The Moroccan said their relationship was good and added that, if there had been tensions, he would not have kissed Ncikazi on the forehead. Orlando Pirates announced Ncikazi’s departure only hours later.

Speaking after Arrows’ 1-0 defeat by Mamelodi Sundowns in the Carling Knockout Cup quarter-finals, Ncikazi avoided addressing the specific claims and instead explained why he would not speak publicly about internal problems at his former club.

“Guys, for the future, as a principle and as a man of my age, you don’t talk ill of your former employer because you offend them,” Ncikazi said.

“Equally, when I start talking about my former employers, I’m offending my current employer. Every house has got a toilet; as a man, you don’t have the responsibility of telling every family that there are challenges in your family.”

Ncikazi said all dressing rooms faced their own difficulties, but argued that discussing those matters publicly undermined a coach’s responsibility as a leader.

“I’m just a man; even if there was a problem, you are not going to know because I’m a man. I have a responsibility to protect the environment that I work for,” he explained.

“In every club that I worked for, there are issues, but I don’t publicly speak about them. As a coach, you are the CEO of the company, so protect the environment.”