Mandla Ncikazi returns to Golden Arrows as head coach after Orlando Pirates exit

Mandla Ncikazi has been appointed Golden Arrows head coach after leaving Orlando Pirates and the club dismissed Pitso Dladla.

Orlando Pirates confirmed earlier that Ncikazi had departed his position as assistant to Abdeslam Ouaddou “to take up a head coach role”.

Golden Arrows then parted company with Dladla just hours later, despite the coach having suffered only two defeats since taking charge. He had succeeded Manqoba Mngqithi, who left the club to coach Young Africans SC in Tanzania.

Arrows began the season with an unbeaten run in their first six matches, including victories over Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8. However, they had subsequently gone five games without a win.

The club have now turned to Ncikazi, who previously guided Abafana Bes’thende to a fourth-place finish in the 2020/21 season before moving to the Buccaneers.

His return follows a brief spell at Orlando Pirates, where he worked as part of Ouaddou’s coaching staff before accepting the opportunity to lead Golden Arrows.