PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE
Smiso Msomi|Published
Mandla Ncikazi has returned to Lamontville Golden Arrows as head coach, with the Durban club turning to a familiar face following their decision to part ways with Pitso Dladla.
Arrows announced Ncikazi’s appointment on their social media platforms on Thursday, confirming the return of a coach who previously led the club to one of the best league campaigns in its history.
The appointment comes after Arrows confirmed that they had agreed to part ways with Dladla with immediate effect.
The change follows a difficult start to the 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign, with Abafana Bes’thende managing just one victory in their opening eight league matches.
Ncikazi’s return represents more than a change in the dugout. The experienced coach has a longstanding relationship with the club, having spent more than 15 years working across its structures, including its development setup.
His previous spell as head coach came during the 2020/21 season, when he guided Arrows to a fourth-place finish in the league — a landmark achievement for the KwaZulu-Natal outfit.
He left the club in 2021 before joining Orlando Pirates, where he became part of a successful technical team and collected several trophies during his time with the Soweto giants.
Ncikazi’s experience at Pirates adds another dimension to his return. He has spent the past five years working in a high-pressure environment, contributing to the Buccaneers’ success as both an assistant coach and, briefly, a co-coach.
His move back to Arrows also gives him the opportunity to lead a team in the top flight again, at a club whose culture and structures he knows well.
The immediate challenge will be to improve Arrows’ results and restore consistency to their league campaign. Their recent struggles have raised concerns over their attacking output, with the team also coming under pressure after a run of matches without a win.
Ncikazi will now be tasked with getting the squad back on track and helping the club meet its ambitions for the season.
For Arrows, bringing back a coach with an established connection to the club offers continuity at a time when results have demanded change. For Ncikazi, it is a return to familiar surroundings — and an opportunity to build on the success of his first spell in charge.
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