Richards Bay FC have approached Orlando Pirates for their assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi to be the new head coach of the club next season.
According to iDiski Times sources, Bay chairman Sifiso Biyela wants Ncikazi to take over from Vasili Manousakis, who left the club at the end of last season.
One source explained that the Bay boss even approached Bucs chairman Irvin Khoza personally, as he feels Ncikazi can do the job that he wants.
Bay were heavily linked with former Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer, who has since been appointed by Moroccan giants Raja Club Athletic and Biyela was left hurt at missing out on him.
Ncikazi established a strong reputation at Golden Arrows in the 2020/21 season, taking them to great heights as they finished in the fourth spot on the DStv Premiership table. He also led them to win a Q Innovation quarter for the first time, becoming the first club in KZN to win the innovation along with the Coach of the Month award.
It was not surprising when he was, alongside AmaZulu coach Benni McCarthy and Mamelodi Sundowns co-coaches Manqoba Mngqithi and Rulani Mokwena, nominated for the DStv Coach of the Season, even though he lost it out to McCarthy at the end.
But he was praised for the style of football that Arrows played, despite the club’s limited budget.
That is what has caught the attention of the Bay chairman to rope him, having witnessed him closer at Arrows.
After doing well at Arrows, Ncikazi was approached by Pirates to be one of the assistant coaches under Zinnbauer at Houghton club, along with Fadlu Davids.
The duo were given dual charge at Pirates after the start of the 2021/22 season, after Bucs were dumped out of the MTN8 quarter-finals by Swallows and Zinnbauer’s sudden departure due to personal reasons in August 2021.
They led Pirates to the CAF Confederation Cup final, only to lose to Moroccan side RS Berkane on penalties.
Davids left at the end of that season and Ncikazi stayed on to become one of the assistant coaches of new Spanish coach Jose Riveiro.
The Spanish tactician, flanked by Ncikazi, led Pirates to the domestic cup double – winning the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup, respectively.
Bay confirmed they will announce their new head coach on Monday, while Siboniso Gumede has already been appointed as new assistant.
Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).
