Ncikazi unpacks Ouaddou’s impact and human touch at Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi has offered a candid glimpse into the operational dynamic at the Soweto giants, sharing his experience of working under new head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.

Ouaddou, the former AS Vita Club and Marumo Gallants mentor, took the reins ahead of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season, replacing Jose Riveiro who departed in May 2025. The Moroccan tactician quickly justified the club’s faith, having arrived at Pirates after successfully steering Gallants away from relegation danger last term.

The new technical team setup has yielded immediate results. The Buccaneers have already clinched the 2025 MTN8 title and are firmly in contention for more silverware, having reached the final of the Carling Knockout Cup, where they are set to face Ouaddou’s previous club, Marumo Gallants.

In league action, the Soweto giants are performing strongly, currently sitting second on the log with 22 points from 10 matches, trailing log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns by three points (who have played 12 games).

Amidst this successful start, Ncikazi—a figure retained from the previous staff, a move Ouaddou chose to make instead of bringing in his own backroom team—has been effusive in his praise of the 47-year-old’s leadership.

The Respect for African Expertise By Orlando Pirates Coach

Ncikazi pointed not only to Ouaddou’s tactical abilities but also his approach to collaboration and human relations within the technical team.

“Football and sports reflect the society that we come from. One thing that I picked up from the coach is that before the coach, he’s a great human being,” Ncikazi stated.

The assistant coach highlighted Ouaddou’s unique philosophy regarding staff integration.

“He understands that he is African, and he respects African people. There is a statement that he uses: he says he will use the expertise that he finds in the club. A very few coaches do that; we don’t trust each other, and we are also scared to be stabbed behind. Only a confident and good human being can do that,” Ncikazi explained.

He added that the relationship is reflective of the coach’s character. “The relationship just explains him, he says I don’t kiss anybody, I only kiss the people I work with. That is a sign that whatever we do together, I appreciate him, for him to recognise the people who are already at the club, it says a lot. Normally, it doesn’t happen that way, hence the results speak.”

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