Malesela explains the Chippa reunion
Coach says he was on track before sacking
Chippa United coach Dan Malesela admits life was hard without a job. This after he spent eight months unemployed after parting ways with the Chilli Boys in September.
Club boss Siviwe Mpengesi has now reappointed Malesela to the coaching position.
He takes over from Vladislav Heric, who has been redeployed to a development role just two weeks after Chippa had initially announced the Serbian as the head coach.
Malesela, the 53-year-old tactician from Mabopane, in Tshwane, said he endured a stressful time without a job.
“It was very frustrating not only for myself, but my family as well,” said Malesela.
“My wife goes to work and the kids go to school; I would be left alone at home.
“It was a very big challenge being without a club for all those months. As I was sitting there you hope that someone has noticed you and will give you a chance.”
After turning Chippa into one of the most enterprising teams to watch in the Absa Premiership, many pundits expected Malesela to be one of the most sought-after coaches in the country.
But it was not to be, as local clubs twiddled their thumbs and overlooked him time and again.
“There were talks here and there, but none of it amounted to anything, so it was a real struggle. It did disturb me a bit because I thought if everybody is raving about the brand of football that my players were dishing out then why were [new] jobs not coming.
“When you see other people getting hired, you end up wondering if it’s just bad luck.”
The former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates captain will pick up from where he left off.
“It was not much of a surprise because I know the chairman and I know the kind of football he wants to see his team play.
“I do feel that I have unfinished business at Chippa because we came close, but did not win any trophy.
“We were getting there, it just required a few things to be patched up and the team would have got something.”
‘‘ I know the chairman, the kind of football he wants