Exclusive: Arrows Break Silence on Ncikazi

Golden Arrows have reportedly broken their silence on the future of their technical team, with Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi placed firmly at the top of a shortlist of possible replacements.

The Durban-based side is said to be growing worried that a Top Eight finish could slip out of reach this season. After eight league matches in the Betway Premiership, the team has managed only one win, leaving them uncomfortably close to the lower reaches of the log. Current head coach Pitso Dladla remains in charge, but the hierarchy is understood to have already begun looking at options.

According to the exclusive report, Ncikazi is the clear favourite on that shortlist. The 57-year-old is no stranger to the club. In October 2020 he was appointed head coach of Lamontville Golden Arrows and, in his only full season in charge, guided them to a fourth-place finish in the Premiership — one of the strongest campaigns in the club’s history. He left by mutual consent in June 2021 and joined the technical staff at Orlando Pirates, where he has worked as co-coach, interim coach and assistant while the team collected several major trophies.

His experience at Arrows, combined with his knowledge of the local game, is said to make him an attractive choice for a side looking to steady itself quickly. The club is believed to feel that someone who already understands the environment and the expectations could help turn results around before the season drifts further away.

Arrows have not made any official announcement about a coaching change, and Dladla is still listed as the man in charge. A club official has previously said the team knows nothing about any approach for Ncikazi. Whether that position shifts in the coming weeks will depend on results on the field and how the hierarchy weighs the risk of continuing with the current setup against the possibility of bringing back a coach who previously delivered one of the club’s best league finishes.

For now, the shortlist remains internal, but the exclusive has made clear that Ncikazi’s name is the one sitting at the top. Fans will be watching closely to see whether the silence is truly broken with a formal move or whether the current coach is given more time to improve the side’s standing.

Source: https://x.com/KickOffMagazine/status/2112835093295231173

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