Mandla Ncikazi has refused to comment on claims that his departure from Orlando Pirates followed a breakdown in his relationship with head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.
Ncikazi left the Buccaneers last month to join Golden Arrows, ending a five-year spell with the Soweto club. Reports subsequently suggested that tensions with Ouaddou may have played a role in his decision to leave.
The former Orlando Pirates assistant coach was asked about the speculation after Golden Arrows’ match against Mamelodi Sundowns, but said he would not discuss the circumstances surrounding his exit.
He explained that speaking negatively about either his former or current employer could create problems for the other.
“Let me answer him. Guys, for the future, as a principle, and as a man of my age, you don’t talk ill of your former employer because you will offend them. Equally the same, when I speak about my former employer, I’m offending my current employer,” he told the media.
Ncikazi said football clubs, like families, inevitably face difficulties, but that those matters should not automatically become public.
“Every house has a toilet. As a man, you don’t have to tell everyone that you have challenges in your family. Even if there was a problem, you will never know. I’m a man, I’ve got a responsibility to protect the environment I work in, irrespective of the environment,” he said.
The coach added that his time at several clubs had reinforced his belief that managers and coaches should protect the environments in which they work, even when they encounter internal challenges.
“In every club I’ve worked for, there were issues, but I don’t have the responsibility to publicly tell. As a coach, you’re the CEO of the company, so protect that environment. I have no comment,” Ncikazi concluded.
Ncikazi spent five years at Orlando Pirates and was part of a technical team that won eight trophies with the Buccaneers.
Although he did not confirm or deny reports of a dispute with Ouaddou, his comments made clear that he does not intend to discuss the reasons behind his departure publicly.
