If looks could kill, Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi seemed to rather not want to be present at the Wind Boardroom at Coastland Skye Hotel in uMhlanga yesterday.
A serious Ncikazi entered the venue ahead of Pirates’ MTN8 final against Stellenbosch FC tomorrow night (6pm kick-off) at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, and as he sat beside Stellies coach Steve Barker for the pre-match press briefing, he hardly grinned – sitting with his hands tucked in and gazed over the media corps.
Someone who’s not accustomed to Ncikazi would assume that he’s full of himself – but far from it.
Instead, he was showing what Pirates have been about.
“Maybe as a person I am too generous and humble. I always try to put myself at the end of the queue and the badge in front,” Ncikazi explained.
The 55-year-old is not the only one that has put the club first. He and coach Jose Riveiro have worked together to ensure they try to bring back the glory days.
The Sea Robbers have gone about their business since Riveiro took over the reins, bagging back-to-back cup doubles and second-place finishes in the Premiership.
As such, by reaching this season’s Wafa Wafa cup final, they could become the first team to win a ‘three-peat’ in the competition, something that could shut up their detractors.
When Riveiro took over the reins, he was regarded as a ‘plumber’ – a European-born coach who’s hired by a top-flight outfit despite having an underwhelming résumé.
Ncikazi, who was Riveiro’s second assistant before becoming the right-hand man after Sergio Almera’s departure, has lifted the lid on their strides over the last two seasons.
“There are many things that I have learnt – maybe like you are putting it, (transitioning) from a head coach to an assistant coach,” Ncikazi said.
“How I wish my fellow colleagues can have the exposure that I have of being part of the Orlando Pirates project... Pirates are unique in the way they do things.
“Maybe the beauty of everything is being part of a technical team where Jose is the head coach. Without exaggeration, I still must meet someone who works so hard.
“He’s a professional. So, I always hope that our fellow South Africans can learn how seriously (some Europeans) they take their work.”
But while it was pleasing to hear Ncikazi wax lyrical about his coach, there’ll be a wide range of disappointment if they don’t sail to a third successive Wafa Wafa crown.
The season is still in its teething days, but The Ghost are starting to believe this is their season to return to the pinnacle of SA football and challenge for everything that’s up for grabs.
Ncikazi knows heavy is the head that wears the crown. Hence, they need to go out tomorrow night and play the game, not the occasion.
“I also believe that the majority of the support will come from Orlando Pirates supporters, but we must be cautious that the expectations are equally higher,” he said.
“More blessings, more burdens. When you work for Pirates, their expectations are there. So, while we take what we do with great responsibility, we have a lot on our shoulders.”
Just 2 days away!#MTN8 🏆 Final
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Sure, expectations are high on Pirates to deliver. But Ncikazi knows that they’ll undermine Stellies at their own peril, given the form Barker’s men are in.
The Cape Winelands outfit had a breathtaking term last season, finishing third in the league, while winning the Carling Knockout Cup – the only domestic trophy which was missing from Pirates.
Stellenbosch have taken things up a notch this season as they’ve qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup group stage for the first time in their existence.
They also know Moses Mabhida very well, having beaten Nsingizini Hotspurs and Mamelodi Sundowns in the Confederation Cup and MTN8 semi-final respectively.
“We are facing a very serious team. But we are Orlando Pirates, and we go to every match for one thing: to win it,” Ncikazi said.