CAPE TOWN – He’s done the hard yards for the past few seasons, but now Benson Mhlongo is ready to stamp his own mark on the coaching world.
Orlando Pirates announced on Tuesday that Mhlongo, who was one of the assistant coaches to Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic, will be leaving the Buccaneers for the National First Division.
The 37-year-old former Bafana Bafana defender and defensive midfielder will cut his teeth as a head coach at NFD club TS Sporting.
“Benson Mhlongo has received the chairman Dr Irvin Khoza’s blessings to leave the club and pursue his dream of becoming a head coach,” Pirates said on Tuesday.
“Dr Khoza granted Mhlongo’s wish to leave the club following a meeting with chairman of TS Sporting Slungu Thobela earlier this week.
“Mhlongo, leaves the Club having amassed a wealth of knowledge where he was exposed to three different head coaches at the Club, including a stint as head coach of the Orlando Pirates Multichoice Diski Challenge team.
“On behalf of the Orlando Pirates family, we would like to wish Benson the best of luck in his future endeavours.”
Mhlongo worked alongside Muhsin Ertugral, Kjell Jonevret and Sredojevic at Pirates, but will be keen to win promotion to the Premiership with TS Sporting, who are based in Mpumalanga.
Mhlongo, who earned 36 Bafana Bafana caps from 2003 to 2009, played in the PSL for Wits, Sundowns, Pirates, Platinum Stars and Polokwane City before retiring in 2016 to take up a coaching role at the Pirates MDC team.