'He can make decisions' - Segolela reflects on Ncikazi's Pirates exit
by Thato Bosoga · KickOffFormer Orlando Pirates winger Tlou Segolela believes Mandla Ncikazi’s departure from the Buccaneers will be felt by the players, but insists the club has the experience and professionalism to move forward.
Ncikazi has left Pirates to return to Golden Arrows, where he will take up the head coach position, bringing an end to his spell with the Soweto giants that began in August 2021.
During his time at Pirates, Ncikazi played an important role behind the scenes, providing valuable institutional knowledge to incoming head coaches and serving as a link between the technical team and the players.
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Segolela acknowledged the emotional impact of losing someone who had built strong relationships within the dressing room but believes the move presents an exciting opportunity for the experienced coach.
“Obviously, when things are like that, when he had built good relationships with the players, he was familiar with the environment and the institution, yes, it’s going to be sad, but it’s football,” Segolela told KickOff.
“Football is about opportunity. He was there serving as an assistant, and now he has the opportunity to come back and be a head coach again.
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Ncikazi previously enjoyed success with Arrows, guiding the KwaZulu-Natal side to fourth place in the league standings, an achievement 'Sox', as the former winger is best known, believes underlines his coaching credentials.
“If you recall, I think he’s the guy who brought Arrows to number four on the log, which I think was their best achievement in the log standings. So it’s a great opportunity. Now he can stand for himself, he can make decisions,” Segolela continued.
For Pirates, the 57-year-old coach's exit creates an opportunity for another member of the technical team to step into the role and contribute to the club’s ambitions.
While some players may find it difficult to adjust to his absence, the Moletjie-born former midfielder is confident they will adapt to the changes, stressing that professionalism remains essential in football.
“For Pirates, it’s now an opportunity for someone to come in. It is going to be sad for the players he was close to working with, but they are professionals, they can adjust and move on,” Segolela concluded.