Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi has been linked with the head coach’s job at Golden Arrows, the club he led before he joined the Buccaneers in 2021.
According to football news outlet SoccerBeat, Arrows are reviewing the position of current head coach Pitso Dladla after a poor start to the Betway Premiership season, and Ncikazi is “understood to be at the top of a shortlist of potential replacements”. Neither Orlando Pirates nor Golden Arrows has confirmed an approach, and Dladla remains in charge for now.
What We Know So Far
- The report: SoccerBeat reported on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, that Dladla’s position at Golden Arrows is under review, with Ncikazi a leading candidate to replace him.
- The coach: Mandla Ncikazi, 57, is an assistant coach at Orlando Pirates and has been part of the club’s technical team since June 2021.
- The club: Golden Arrows, known as Abafana Bes’thende, are based in Durban.
- Official word: neither club has commented, and no move has been confirmed.
Why Golden Arrows Are Considering A Change
Arrows have struggled to find wins this season. After eight league matches, they have:
- won 1, drawn 5 and lost 2
- collected 8 points
- gone four matches without a win
- failed to score in their last two games, most recently losing 1-0 to Milford at King Zwelithini Stadium.
Dladla insists he can turn things around. “They should [continue to] believe in us and we will turn things around soon,” he told Sowetan. He admitted the team is “still struggling to convert the chances we are creating”.
Arrows’ next league match is a KwaZulu-Natal derby against AmaZulu on 31 October, which could be a key game for Dladla.
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Who Is Mandla Ncikazi?
Ncikazi is a former AmaZulu and African Wanderers player whose playing career was ended by an Achilles tendon injury around 2000. He has since built a long coaching career in KwaZulu-Natal and beyond.
His First Spell At Golden Arrows
Ncikazi was appointed Golden Arrows head coach in October 2020. In his only season in charge, he led the club to a fourth-place finish in the 2020/21 DStv Premiership, one of the best campaigns in the club’s history. He left by mutual consent in June 2021.
Five Years At Orlando Pirates
In June 2021, Ncikazi joined Orlando Pirates’ technical team. He served as co-coach in the 2021/22 season and then as an assistant under José Riveiro. He stayed on as an assistant after Riveiro left in 2025 and Abdeslam Ouaddou took over.
According to reports, Pirates have won eight trophies during Ncikazi’s time at the club. The highlight was last season’s 2025/26 Betway Premiership title, which Pirates clinched on the final day by beating Orbit College 2-0. It was the club’s first league title in 14 years.
A Difficult Start To This Season
Ncikazi missed most of Pirates’ early matches this season after having knee surgery following an injury in pre-season. He recovered in KwaZulu-Natal and has only returned to the Pirates bench in recent weeks.
Would He Leave Pirates?
That’s the big question. A move to Arrows would give Ncikazi the chance to be a head coach again, back in his home province and at a club where he had his best season as a head coach. But it would mean leaving the reigning league champions, where he has been part of a successful technical team for five years.
It isn’t yet clear whether Ncikazi would want the move, or whether Arrows will make a change at all. Pirates have not commented on the reports.
What It Means For Orlando Pirates
If Ncikazi does leave, Pirates would lose an experienced member of their technical team in the middle of the season, as they defend their league title. He’s also one of the few remaining links to the coaching group that has brought the club its recent run of trophies.
We’ll update this story when either club confirms its plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Orlando Pirates Coach Has Been Linked With A PSL Job?
Assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi has been linked with the head coach’s job at Golden Arrows, according to a report by SoccerBeat.
Has Mandla Ncikazi Left Orlando Pirates?
No. He’s still part of the Orlando Pirates technical team. Neither Pirates nor Golden Arrows has confirmed an approach or a move.
Has Golden Arrows Fired Pitso Dladla?
No. Reports say Dladla’s position is under review after one win in eight league games, but he remains head coach for now.
Has Ncikazi Coached Golden Arrows Before?
Yes. He coached Golden Arrows in the 2020/21 season and led them to a fourth-place finish in the league before joining Orlando Pirates in June 2021.
Who Is The Orlando Pirates Head Coach?
Abdeslam Ouaddou is the Orlando Pirates head coach. He led the club to the 2025/26 Betway Premiership title.
