Orlando Pirates took the local football fraternity by surprise when Turkish-born Muhsin Ertugral was announced as the Bucs’s new head coach on Tuesday night.
The club announced in a statement that the well travelled Ertugral has signed a three year contract and will assume his duties from July 1.
“I am excited about the prospect of working for Orlando Pirates Football Club. It’s an absolute honour to be at the helm of one of the biggest clubs in Africa‚” Ertugral said.
“This is a club with great history and tradition. I am looking forward to being part of the Orlando Pirates family and thank the president for the trust he has shown in me.”
Ertugral was initially believed to be keen on a move to Cape Town John Comitis bought Mpumalanga Black Aces‚ the club the Turk coached last season‚ last month and signaled his intention to relocate it to the Mother City.
It soon became apparent that something was in the works when the coach‚ who has also coached Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town‚ said he needed some clarity on certain issues before committing to the new club.
Pirates administrative officer Floyd Mbele said Ertugral is a coach who needs no introduction to South Africa football after working in the country for many years.
“We are confident that he will find all he needs to assemble an exciting and competitive squad ahead of the start of the 2016/17 season‚” Mbele said.
Pirates head coach Eric Tinkler’s future now hangs in the balance and according to the statement‚ he met the club’s chairman Irvin Khiza on Tuesday afternoon.
The two parties are scheduled to meet again on July 4 in what is expected to be the formalisation of his departure from the club.
Orlando Pirates name Muhsin Ertugral as new head coach in surprise announcement
The club announced in a statement that the well travelled Ertugral has signed a three year contract and will assume his duties from July 1.
“I am excited about the prospect of working for Orlando Pirates Football Club. It’s an absolute honour to be at the helm of one of the biggest clubs in Africa‚” Ertugral said.
“This is a club with great history and tradition. I am looking forward to being part of the Orlando Pirates family and thank the president for the trust he has shown in me.”
Ertugral was initially believed to be keen on a move to Cape Town John Comitis bought Mpumalanga Black Aces‚ the club the Turk coached last season‚ last month and signaled his intention to relocate it to the Mother City.
It soon became apparent that something was in the works when the coach‚ who has also coached Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town‚ said he needed some clarity on certain issues before committing to the new club.
Pirates administrative officer Floyd Mbele said Ertugral is a coach who needs no introduction to South Africa football after working in the country for many years.
“We are confident that he will find all he needs to assemble an exciting and competitive squad ahead of the start of the 2016/17 season‚” Mbele said.
Pirates head coach Eric Tinkler’s future now hangs in the balance and according to the statement‚ he met the club’s chairman Irvin Khiza on Tuesday afternoon.
The two parties are scheduled to meet again on July 4 in what is expected to be the formalisation of his departure from the club.
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