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Riveiro hails Ncikazi’s contribution

todayOctober 7, 2024 75

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Jose Riveiro, coach of Orlando Pirates and Mandla Ncikazi, assistant coach of Orlando Pirates during the DStv Premiership 2022/23 match between Royal AM and Orlando Pirates held at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on 17 August 2022 © Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix.

Orlando Pirates head coach, Jose Riveiro, has hailed his assistant coach, Mandla Ncikazi, for his role in the team’s success following their latest MTN8 triumph.

Over the weekend, the Buccaneers clinched a historic third successive MTN8 title after beating Stellenbosch FC 3-1 in Durban to make it the team’s fifth trophy’s since Riveiro took charge.

Riveiro has highlighted the vital role played by Ncikazi, who arrived at the club in July 2021.

“Mandla’s role, like many others in the staff, is important for an outsider like me, for a foreign coach coming in – and I know the game is the same wherever you go, football is football, but every country and league has different particularities,” said Riveiro.

“Like South African football has its own identity, and that’s something that as quick as you can learn about it as a foreign coach, the better for you and the team. So, people like Mandla, we’re talking about one coach that’s been around for a long time in South African football, playing, coaching, he knows the space very well. So, it gives you the opportunity to learn quickly about the place you are in, to understand a little bit better the people as human beings and as football players, as well as the opponents and many things,” he concluded.

 

Written by: Ntsako Mukhari

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