Orlando Pirates have confirmed that assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi will oversee the remainder of the season in the interim and will be assisted by Head Performance Analyst Rayaan Jacobs as well as other members of the technical and support team.
This comes after the club released a shock statement on Monday morning that head coach Jose Riveiro had asked to be released from his contract earlier which is set to run down on 30 June.
- ALSO READ: Khoza Explains Surprise Reason For Early Riveiro Exit
- Breaking: Pirates Make Shock Riveiro Announcement
Ncikazi joined the Buccaneers in June 2021 on a three-year contract after vacating his head coaching role at Golden Arrows having guided the KwaZulu-Natal-based outfit to a fourth place finish the previous season.
Upon joining Pirates, he worked under then-coach Josef Zinnbauer before turning into co-coach alongside Fadlu Davids for the 2021/22 season. But while Davids left after that campaign, Ncikazi has been second in command for Riveiro since the Spaniard’s appointment in July 2022 in which they have won five trophies together since.
The Soweto giants confirmed via a statement that the Kriel-born mentor will be in charge of the club’s last four matches against TS Galaxy, SuperSport United, AmaZulu and Magesi FC.
“The remaining matches of the season will be overseen by Assistant Coach Mandla Ncikazi, who will take charge of the team on an interim basis,” reads a statement.
“He will be supported by Head Performance Analyst Rayaan Jacobs and the rest of the Club’s technical and support staff.”
