If there’s one man who is in a good position to offer some insight into Orlando Pirates, it’s Augusto Palacios, and he has given Mandla Ncikazi his backing to lead the club.
The Peruvian Palacios has twice taken charge of Pirates on an interim basis and was the director of football at the club from 1996 to 2012.
How long Ncikazi will be tasked with leading Pirates though, after José Riviero left his position as coach of the Soweto Giants early, remains to be seen.
Pirates still have three games remaining in their Betway Premiership campaign. With Mamelodi Sundowns crowned champions last week, Pirates are guaranteed to finish second in what was a decent season as the Brazilians dominated once more.
Ncikazi Tipped for Permanent Orlando Pirates Coaching Role After Riveiro’s Departure
Riveiro’s last match in charge was against Golden Arrows last week, and over the weekend Pirates drew 1-1 with TS Galaxy under Ncikazi as interim coach.
“Mandla is already part of the Orlando Pirates setup,” Palacios told KickOff.
“He’s been head coach before and he’s familiar with the structure and strategy. This is about continuity – something you can’t afford to disrupt late in the season.”
While Pirates will likely look to find a high-profile name to fill the void left by Riveiro, who led the club to five cup titles and three runner-up finishes in the league, Palacios went on to suggest that Ncikazi could do justice to the role in a permanent role.
“He was always involved – in training, in team talks, and on the road with the squad.
“This isn’t new to him. If the chairman decides to keep him on, I believe he’ll handle it well. This is still the same season, not a reset. The foundations are already in place.”
@Michael_Sherman
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