Bucs new coach by next week — Khoza
• Khoza said the club would co-operate with the law to see that perpetrators of violence are brought to justice
Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza said on Monday that his club’s 6-0 drubbing by Mamelodi Sundowns had made the process of replacing caretaker coach Augusto Palacios critical and Bucs would make an announcement “next week‚ Monday”.
Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza said on Monday that his club’s 6-0 drubbing by Mamelodi Sundowns has made the process of replacing caretaker-coach Augusto Palacios critical and Bucs will make an announcement “next week‚ Monday”.
Khoza said that the club would co-operate fully with the law to see that the perpetrators of Saturday’s violence at the Premier Soccer League match against Sundowns were brought to justice.
On the coaching issue‚ Khoza said Pirates had been waiting for a head coach who has a buyout clause preventing him from leaving his current position until May. Bucs’ chairman said the extent of the drubbing on Saturday had increased the urgency and now, the club would have to explore other options to make an announcement on Monday.
“A 6-1 loss [against SuperSport United in November] by a club of the stature of Orlando Pirates is unacceptable,” he said.
“For that to be followed by a 6-0 loss is rubbing salt into a wound. “This [Monday] afternoon, we will be meeting with the technical team to get to the bottom of the problem. There is no denying there is a problem.
“It is not an easy task to find a coach for a team of the stature of Orlando Pirates FC. When we have found the coach, the pressure on them is enormous. This is the reason why when we lose a coach‚ we look to an insider in an attempt at stability until a replacement is found.
“It has worked in the past. It is proving to be a challenge this time around.
“Unfortunately‚ the candidate identified‚ who we were going to announce by the end of January‚ is under contract at another team. He has a buyout clause for the next five months‚ which is prohibitive.
“What I can guarantee this meeting is that by next week Monday‚ because of what has happened‚ we will be announcing our new coach.”
On the pitch invasion and fan fighting sparked by Percy Tau’s 82nd-minute sixth goal for Sundowns‚ after which 13 people are reported to have been treated for injuries‚ Khoza said: “Violence has no place in our football.
“No matter how strong we feel‚ no matter how aggrieved we are‚ when we engage in violence, it defeats the legitimacy of our grievances.
“I pronounce here today that the club’s unequivocal — clear‚ plain and unambiguous position is for the law to take its course. [In] our democracy, there is a specific law‚ governed by an act‚ Sasrea — the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act.
“I commit that this matter will receive the highest priority in accordance with the law.
“A failure to do so will result in a deterioration that will affect the following of football‚ the sponsors‚ the broadcasters and the public in ways that will erode the gains we have made and should defend bitterly.”
Palacios has served as caretaker after Muhsin Ertugral’s resignation the morning after the thrashing by SuperSport on November 1.
Pirates’ long-time development head and often caretaker in a head-coaching crisis managed three wins in his first three games‚ but since then, Bucs have not won in seven matches‚ losing three and drawing four.