Orlando Pirates Co Coach Mandla Ncikazi Reportedly Surprised by Jose Riveiro's Announcement as the New Boss

• Rumours have emerged that former Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi was taken by surprise about who the club named as the next coach
• Jose Riveiro was revealed to the world last Saturday as the man who would takeover the helm of the rudderless Pirates ship
• Ncikazi's former co-coach Fadlu Davids and the team parted ways in the early part of the off-season, with Ncikazi confirmed to stay on in some capacity

Mandla Ncikazi was reported to have been surprised by the arrival of Jose Riveiro as the new Orlando Pirates coach.

Riveiro was announced last week Saturday, and will steer the club on a three-year-long deal.

The Citizen reported that, according to a club insider, the day before the Spaniard Riveiro was revealed, Ncikazi had a meeting with the players planning for the season.

The source said:

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“Ncikazi knew that there was someone coming, but he just didn’t know who and when would be announced. He thought it was something that was going to happen during the season, because he had already planned everything for the season.

"The pre-season training is there, he was ready and the players knew that they have to prepare for this week because they went through fitness tests last week. As much as he was shocked and surprised, he still knew what was going to happen and all he wants is to see the club getting back to its old ways."

The source added:

Coach Mandla is ambitious, very ambitious and I am certain that he will work well with coach Jose. He knows the players, he knows what is needed at the club and the most important thing is that he always puts the club first. As much as he was shocked, he knows his responsibilities and the management of the club believe in him.”

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Ncikazi's former colleague Fadlu Davids departed the club three weeks ago. The Daily Sun reported that Pirates had no plans whatsoever of letting Ncikazi leave too, and that he will serve in some capacity as an assistant coach.

Jose "but definitely not Mourinho" Riveiro: Fans give their thoughts on new Orlando Pirates coach

Jose Riveiro's appointment as Orlando Pirates coach was met with indifference, skepticism and hesitance.

As reported by Sports Brief, the 45-year-old Spaniard was unveiled as the club's boss on Saturday afternoon, and will get to work for the Soweto giants on 01 July in a three-year deal. His experience as a coach began as Celta Vigo Youth's manager in 2011.

His career path has seen him move from FC Honka (Veikkausliiga, assistant manager), PK-35 (Ykkönen, assistant manager) HJK Helsinki (Veikkausliiga, assistant manager) and FC Inter Turku (Veikkausliiga, manager). He is yet to win a trophy in his managerial career.