Mandla Ncikazi: Working with Jose Riveiro has improved my coaching

Ncikazi had to move from head coach to assistant, and Riveiro took over the reins. Addressing the media on Thursday, the former Golden Arrows mentor shared how Riveiro has helped him be part of the club's success.

"There are so many lessons learnt, being an assistant coach, being a head coach, how much I wish our fellow colleagues can have the exposure that I've had of being part of that project of Orlando Pirates,” Ncikazi said.

“Not like other teams, Pirates are unique in the way they do things but maybe the beauty of everything is being part of that technical team where Jose is the head coach.

“Without exxagerating, I still have to meet a person who works that hard and who's a professional and I always wish that our fellow South Africans can learn how seriously they take their job when you arrive 6 o'clock at work. “Normally as coaches we know two hours, you arrive 6 o'clock and then you leave at 3 and that becomes your daily routine.

“A lot of analysis is done, a lot of space of allowing other departments, conditioning, analysis to take part in the development of the club. The leadership and the wisdom that is in the office.

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So, one, I was a head coach before but I think I've grown more as an assistant at Orlando Pirates than I was a head coach in other clubs. So, I'm happy to be part of the project, I just hope in my presence the club with the little contribution that one can make, the club becomes successful because this is not about us.

“It's a movement that brings happiness to the country, so if I'm part of that, I'm happy to be part of that project."

Ncikazi is well aware of the threats of Stellenbosch and for them to win the cup, they will have to overcome everything that will be thrown at them.

"The stats support the game they are playing when you look at stats they are the most counter pressing team, the team that is very strong on transitions, it's Stellies.

“It's up to us to like I said how we deal with that on the day but we know their strengths and we have to deal with that to put our hands on the trophy and win the match. Like you have pointed out we are aware of Titus' [Devin] strength, we are aware even in the absence of Rayners [Iqraam] that has gone, the structure has not changed."