Two Betway Premiership teams have sacked their coaches on the last day of 2024. Cape Town City announced yesterday that they have mutually agreed to part ways with their head coach and former Bafana Bafana midfielder Eric Tinkler. In the Eastern Cape, Chippa United terminated the services of Kwanele Kopo, stating that his contract expired at midnight on December 31, 2024.
IN WITH THE NEW
Former SuperSport United central defender Thabo September will take over as head coach of Chippa United, assisted by Mabhuti Khanyeza, who was fired by Lamontville Golden Arrows three weeks ago. Meanwhile, Cape Town City has expressed its gratitude towards Tinkler, who won the AFCON with Bafana in 1996. A former Orlando Pirates coach, Tinkler coached City for the last three seasons, where he presided over second, fourth, and fifth-place finishes, respectively. He made history by taking the team to play in the CAF Champions League for the first time when they finished second on the log.
CAPE TOWN CITY TO ANNOUNCE NEW COACH SOON
In a statement, the team said: "We wish Eric the very best for the future. The club will announce a new interim coach as we build up to an exciting new project for the 25/26 season and beyond." In Limpopo, Premier Soccer League newbies Magesi FC hired former Bafana Bafana assistant coach as their new boss, Owen da Gama on Monday. Da Gama, who once coached Pirates and Highlands Park, was appointed the new head coach after their coach Clinton Larsen resigned during a post-match interview a fortnight ago. Da Gama's appointment comes after the head coach who steered the top-flight rookies to a shock Carling Knockout final victory against Mamelodi Sundowns in November, Clinton Larsen, stepped down last week after Magesi's 3-0 Carling Black Label Cup defeat against the All-Stars. The Volksrust-born Da Gama, 63, was a prolific striker in the 1980s who played his football locally and abroad. He has coached teams like Dynamos, Silver Stars, Orlando Pirates, Platinum Stars, and the South Africa U-23s. In the mid-2000s, he had a brief spell as Bafana caretaker coach after assisting head coach Shakes Mashaba.
