JOHANNESBURG - On Wednesday Mazola Molefe looked at three possible coaching options for Orlando Pirates to consider immediately. These candidates were all foreign coaches - two Frenchmen and one Serbian - currently unattached, but who could be the ideal permanent mentor for the Buccaneers.
Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza has often given the impression that local coaches tend to be overwhelmed by the task at hand when given the Buccaneers job. But were he to change his mind, who would he go for?
Here are three more probable choices Khoza could unveil on Monday.
Dan Malesela - Chippa United
The hype around Malesela has perhaps died down a bit because of the club’s recent poor results in the Premiership. The former Pirates defender was a breath of fresh air when he was appointed, albeit controversially, at the PE-based outfit in December 2015. Chippa finished the season in an incredible sixth place - above Pirates - and Malesela hasn’t looked back since.
The current campaign has been challenging for the Chilli Boys, but Malesela is still viewed as a man capable of coaching the Soweto giants and succeeding. He does, however, have a buy-out clause having signed a three-year contract at Chippa in May.
Luc Eymael - Polokwane City
One report this week has already speculated that the Belgian nomad is the man Khoza has earmarked to relieve beleaguered interim coach Augusto Palacios. Eymael appears to be a man gifted enough to handle the hot seat, but the only problem is his itchy feet. Eymael has done more than enough to prove his worth in the PSL, and because of his efforts, City are currently in sixth place on the log table - a remarkable feat given the club’s limited resources.
Polokwane City's Luc Eymael has done well with limited resources. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Giovanni Solinas - Unattached
Another coach that arrived in SA and quickly adapted when he took over at Free State Stars in December 2015. In just six months, the Italian was able to help Stars avoid relegation and guided them to the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup, where they were thrashed 4-2 by Pirates. Solinas then resigned, stating personal reasons, only to be rehired in September. But the reunion didn’t last long. The feeling is that if he was indeed tagged for the job, Khoza would have appointed him by now. But stranger things have happened.
Giovanni Solinas achieved much in his short spell at Free State Stars. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/ BackpagePix
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