A short lifespan in football’s most dangerous job
CHIPPA United boss Chippa Mpengesi has unwittingly confirmed that anyone who takes on football’s most thankless job should live from a suitcase.
Since winning promotion to the Absa Premiership in 2012, United have had 12 coaching changes and none of those at the helm has lasted longer than six months.
Some have lasted for only two matches in the hot seat.
Ernst Middendorp has now joined the circus, replacing go- to man Roger Sikhakhane, who was shown the door a couple of weeks after he was officially appointed head coach.
Here are their five longestsurviving coaches since they first won promotion to the most dangerous coaching job in SA.
Mark Harrison (April 2013 to October 2013)
Mpengesi made one last attempt to save the club from relegation in United’s rookie campaign in the top flight, appointing Harrison, the club’s sixth coach, less than a month before the end of the season.
Harrison brought about a change in attitude and results, including a win over Orlando Pirates.
Chippa moved from bottom place to 15th, the play-off position, but could not survive. Harrison went down to the First Division with the club and had a good start before resigning to join Golden Arrows in the PSL.
Vladislav Heric (January 2014 to May 2014)
If you needed any more proof that coaching is football’s most thankless job, look no further than Heric’s story. Appointed after Ian Palmer was sacked halfway through last season in the First Division, Heric took over on a two-year contract and won promotion to the top flight with three matches to spare. But Mpengesi felt he needed a more experienced coach to lead the club in the PSL; the Serb did not fit the profile and left.
Farouk Abrahams (October 2012 to January 2013)
Abrahams started as an interim coach but was given a two- and-a-half-year contract. He was in charge for eight matches, winning one, drawing five and losing two before leaving.
Ian Palmer (October 2013 to January 2014)
He replaced Harrison and hit the ground running as United put pressure on First Division leaders Milano United. Palmer signed a one-year contract with an option to renew, but was gone long before that. Palmer collected 14 points out of a possible 21, but it was not good enough for Mpengesi. Wilfred Mugeyi (January 2013 to April 2013)
The Zimbabwean man jumped at the opportunity to be the main man in the hot seat after spending many years on the Ajax Cape Town bench as an assistant.
Joining United, however, proved to be a nightmare for the former Bush Bucks striker.
Mugeyi managed just one win in eight league matches, with six defeats, before he was shown the door. United were also knocked out of the Nedbank Cup by First Division club United FC.