Charismatic Moroka Swallows coach Gordon Igesund could be a Bird for life, as far as club chief executive Leon Prins is concerned.
Igesund's contract with the club, which turned around pending Premiership relegation in the 2010/11 season to finish impressive runners-up in the recently concluded campaign, is due to run for another season.
Prins, however, said Igesund's stay with the Birds could extend for “as long as he wants” in the hope that he could bring them the same success he has previously reached in guiding four other clubs to the top-flight league title.
“We have built an amazing rapport with each other on how the club should be run,” Prins said on Tuesday.
“I could not imagine finding a better coach for the job anywhere.”
Igesund himself has said he fully expects to remain with the Dube club for the foreseeable future as he aims to continue the revival of Swallows in an effort to reach a similar level of success and acclaim as that enjoyed by the dazzling combination of the 1980s.
With this in mind, Igesund said Swallows would be in the market for four top-class players during the off-season.
“We already have the nucleous of what is required in the present squad,” Igesund said.
“The spirit and camaradarie at the club is sky-high.
“Now we will be searching for that extra little bit of class to make the team top-class.”
In the meantime, Swallows seem poised to gain further honours, with Igesund widely considered the favourite to be named PSL Coach of the Season next week and Siyabonga Nomvethe already assured of the top goal-scoring award, as well as a likely Player of the Season accolade.
The Birds will launch their initiative for the future in the off-season with a trip to Shanghai next week where they will compete with two Chinese clubs and a top French combination in a four-team round robin competition. – Sapa