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Golden Arrows assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi believes modern football clubs require experienced assistant coaches in order to be successful.
Ncikazi, who has worked as a head coach in the past, has used Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, and Kaizer Chiefs as examples of clubs that have the advantage of knowledgeable deputies.
Ncikazi believes a strong assistant coach helps head coaches to deal with the pressure and demands of the highly competitive modern game.
"The role of an assistant coach is a very interesting one. If you look at the landscape of South African football, take Mamelodi Sundowns, for example - they've got Pitso Mosimane and Manqoba Mngqithi," Ncikazi told IOL.
"Pitso is the head coach and Manqoba his assistant and a former head coach himself. At Orlando Pirates, you have Jozef Zinnbauer as the head coach and Fadlu Davids as his assistant.
"Fadlu is also a former head coach. Steve is the head coach at Arrows and Mandla is a former head coach and he is assisting him.
"Maybe the job of a head coach has become too demanding. Even at Kaizer Chiefs, there's Ernst Middendorp at the top and Shaun Bartlett as his deputy.
"Bartlett is a former head coach himself. Clearly, modern football demands assistant coaches that have a wealth of knowledge in the game."
- TEAMtalk media
