Mandla Ncikazi demoted to assistant role again after shock arrival of Jose’ Riveiro at Orlando Pirates

Will once again be the assistant coach of Orlando Pirates. Photo: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix

Will once again be the assistant coach of Orlando Pirates. Photo: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix

Published Jun 25, 2022

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Durban - The appointment of Jose Riveiro as coach of Orlando Pirates means that Mandla Ncikazi has been demoted to assistant coach and will be assisted by Sergio Almenara.

Ncikazi was recruited by Pirates to serve as an assistant coach ahead of last season under Jozef Zinnbauer alongside Fadlu Davids. Zinnbauer resigned from his post early last season which led to Ncikazi and Davids taking the reins of the club as co-coaches.

Things did not go according to plan as the Sea Robbers struggled for consistency in the league, eventually finishing sixth. The Soweto giants did deliver in the CAF Confederation Cup as they reached the final of the tournament before being outdone by RS Berkane.

The 44-year-old Riveiro who boasts a UEFA Pro Licence has spent the majority of his coaching career so far in Finland and has mainly been confined to assistant coach roles.

Prior to his appointment with Pirates, he had never coached in South Africa let alone Africa and most recently coached FC Inter for almost three years before ending his time with them in December last year.

On the plus side, Transfermarkt.com states that Riveiro stays at clubs for an average of 3.04 years which is long in today’s day and age, however, it must be added that he has mainly been confined to support coaching roles so far which involve less stress compared to head coaching roles.