Jose Riveiro is a special Orlando Pirates legend, and his assistant Mandla Ncikazi has been clutch.
LUCKY LEKGWATHI TRIBUTE
With three MTN8 titles and two Nedbank Cup trophies, Riveiro has earned the praises of every Orlando Pirates legend. Has everyone forgotten his assistant Ncikazi? Lekgwathi hasn’t.
“A role of Mandla [Ncikazi] being local, knowing local style and knowing Orlando Pirates, he played a very crucial role [in Riveiro’s success],” Lekgwathi told FARPost.
“Even the coach, with a lot of things, he was helped by Mandla because he knows players better.
“Remember Ruud Krol [ex-Pirates coach] he didn’t know some of the players but Ian Palmer [Krol’s local assistant coach] knew us. Like myself, I remember when Krol came, I was injured, and after that, I didn’t play.
”And there was a time when the team was travelling and he said to me, ‘You are not travelling’, I was so surprised. They came back, we played a friendly, he substituted the whole team, and left me on the pitch. Why? Because Palmer had told him that this guy is a leader.
“Afterwards, they gave me the armband. Who told him [Krol]? It’s Ian Palmer.
“That’s why I’m saying even Mandla played a crucial role in Riveiro’s stint; he knows South African football and Orlando Pirates.”
SHOULD MANDLA NCIKAZI STAY ON WITH THE NEXT ORLANDO PIRATES COACH NEXT SEASON?
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