Chippa United coach Dan “Dance” Malesela has dismissed rumours linking him to the vacant Orlando Pirates job, saying leaving the Port Elizabeth-based side would be premature as he is building something at the team.
He was speaking to journalists after the team’s 1-1 entertaining Premier Soccer League draw against defending champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, at a packed Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane on Tuesday night. The rumour mill went into overdrive after Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza announced that the team would announce a new head coach on Monday.
Former Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba was initially said to be a hot favourite for the Buccaneers hot seat – but Khoza after announcing that their new coach was still under contractual obligations, Malesela’s name was thrown about.
But the animated former Pirates and Sundowns player who wears his heart on his sleeve, poured cold water over the allegations.
“Here we go again,” he said when asked about the rumour.
“I don't know anything.”
He set the record straight.
“It will be premature for me to leave now and go to any other club and leave these boys here, we’re trying to build something you know.
“If for some reason in the end I am probably forced to leave, that would be very sad,” said Malesela.
He however conceded that being linked with the Pirates top job was a compliment to what he has done with the Chilli Boys.
“Yeah it is. It's good, it's good to be wanted and not to be fired,” he laughed. On Monday, Khoza was quoted as saying the club would name their new coach on Monday.
“We were restricted to do so in January by prohibitive buy-out clauses. It's not easy to find a coach for the club and even less so when people you are looking for are held by contractual obligations,” said the “Iron Duke”.
Pirates have been without a coach since Muhsin Ertugral let his emotions get the better of him and resigned the day after they were humiliated 6-1 by a rampant SuperSport United in November.
Long-term Pirates servant, Augusto Palacios, held the fort but failed to steer the team to a favourable position – and the last straw for Khoza was the 6-0 thrashing by Downs last weekend.
It is normal for any coach or player to deny rumours linking them to other teams while still contracted to another team.
Then Maritzburg United coach Steve Komphela denied that he would be announced as the new Kaizer Chiefs mentor when veteran broadcaster Robert Marawa asked him in his radio show.
Whether Malesela will leave for Pirates or not will be revealed on Monday.
But should he depart for the Soweto giants, that would be a blow for the Chilli Boys as the former Sundowns skipper has transformed Chippa into one of the must-watch teams in the premiership since taking over from Roger Sikhakhane in December 2015.
After Tuesday night's draw with Sundowns, the Chilli Boys moved up from position nine to eight.
‘Dance’ pours cold water on Bucs links
He was speaking to journalists after the team’s 1-1 entertaining Premier Soccer League draw against defending champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, at a packed Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane on Tuesday night. The rumour mill went into overdrive after Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza announced that the team would announce a new head coach on Monday.
Former Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba was initially said to be a hot favourite for the Buccaneers hot seat – but Khoza after announcing that their new coach was still under contractual obligations, Malesela’s name was thrown about.
But the animated former Pirates and Sundowns player who wears his heart on his sleeve, poured cold water over the allegations.
“Here we go again,” he said when asked about the rumour.
“I don't know anything.”
He set the record straight.
“It will be premature for me to leave now and go to any other club and leave these boys here, we’re trying to build something you know.
“If for some reason in the end I am probably forced to leave, that would be very sad,” said Malesela.
He however conceded that being linked with the Pirates top job was a compliment to what he has done with the Chilli Boys.
“Yeah it is. It's good, it's good to be wanted and not to be fired,” he laughed. On Monday, Khoza was quoted as saying the club would name their new coach on Monday.
“We were restricted to do so in January by prohibitive buy-out clauses. It's not easy to find a coach for the club and even less so when people you are looking for are held by contractual obligations,” said the “Iron Duke”.
Pirates have been without a coach since Muhsin Ertugral let his emotions get the better of him and resigned the day after they were humiliated 6-1 by a rampant SuperSport United in November.
Long-term Pirates servant, Augusto Palacios, held the fort but failed to steer the team to a favourable position – and the last straw for Khoza was the 6-0 thrashing by Downs last weekend.
It is normal for any coach or player to deny rumours linking them to other teams while still contracted to another team.
Then Maritzburg United coach Steve Komphela denied that he would be announced as the new Kaizer Chiefs mentor when veteran broadcaster Robert Marawa asked him in his radio show.
Whether Malesela will leave for Pirates or not will be revealed on Monday.
But should he depart for the Soweto giants, that would be a blow for the Chilli Boys as the former Sundowns skipper has transformed Chippa into one of the must-watch teams in the premiership since taking over from Roger Sikhakhane in December 2015.
After Tuesday night's draw with Sundowns, the Chilli Boys moved up from position nine to eight.
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