‘I’m working at Pirates, if I’m there, they are good enough, if I’m not there and it’s decided, they are still good enough,’ the Pirates interim coach.
Orlando Pirates interim coach Mandla Ncikazi has given an update on his future with the club.
ALSO READ: Sundowns’ Maema expresses disappointment over Pyramids draw
Ncikazi served as an assistant coach under Jose Riveiro, who left the club before the end of the season. When the Spaniard left Ncikazi was appointed as the interim head coach.
Pirates contract almost up
The former Golden Arrows coach will see his contract with the Buccaneers running out at the end of the 2025/26 season.
However, with Pirates set to appoint the new coach, there have been question marks around Ncikazi’s stay at the club, especially if the new coach brings his own technical team.
Speaking after his side’s 1-1 draw against AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday, Ncikazi affirmed his commitment to the club, saying he will keep on doing his job until he’s told otherwise.
“I’m wired differently, I’m working at Pirates, if I’m there, they are good enough, if I’m not there and it’s decided, they are still good enough,” said Ncikazi.
“I’m just proud of the contribution that I’m making at the club and being appreciated by the club. And as long as it’s still like that, I’ll always be the servant of this club until I’m told otherwise.”
“I’m a smaller puzzle in a bigger picture, and how I’m wired, this has nothing to do with me, it’s a mission,” Ncikazi added. “When you are at Pirates, you are sent. You must fulfil the mission. But growth in the club depends on how you look at it. I look at the positive side of life.
‘Narrowing of the gap’
“The growth that has been mentioned, the narrowing of the gap (between Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns), the records that have been broken, the youngsters that have been introduced, those are positives.
“Yes, we fell short on some objectives that we wanted, and one can only learn from that and improve going into the next season.”
Meanwhile, Ncikazi extended his unbeaten run as interim coach after Simphiwe Selepe scored a late equaliser to earn the Buccaneers a 1-1 draw against Usuthu in a Betway Premiership clash at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
ALSO READ: AmaZulu hold Pirates to Durban draw
The result sees Ncikazi remaining unbeaten in his three games in charge of the Buccaneers, recording one win and two draws.
Following the draw, Pirates remained in second place on the log with 60 points from 27 matches.
