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Change of coach for Aces

REDEPLOYED: Mpumalanga Black Aces coach Jacob Sakala Photo: Gallo Images
REDEPLOYED: Mpumalanga Black Aces coach Jacob Sakala Photo: Gallo Images

NEWLY promoted Mpumalanga Black Aces are on the hunt for a coach who they believe will keep them in the Premier Soccer League next season, having decided to move current boss Jacob Sakala into the role of technical adviser.

This was confirmed by club owner Mario Morfu, who praised Sakala for getting the side into the top flight, but said they were looking for someone with more PSL experience for their return to the elite league.

"Jacob is a good coach; he prepared the team well this season and through the play-offs," said Morfu. "But we want someone with more experience at PSL level and have entrusted Jacob to with the role to oversee our academy structures through to the first team.

"We will start looking for a new coach now, but will not hire just anybody. They have to be the right fit for the club, understand the style of football we play and be able to work with the style of our players."

Morfu confirmed that Sakala would stay in charge of the team until the new coach was brought on board.

With just six weeks to go until a meeting with defending champions Kaizer Chiefs on the opening day of the new league campaign, barring any successful legal challenges to the playoffs, Aces face a curtailed pre-season and could be under-prepared, something Morfu is conscious of.

"We will probably have a light pre-season with the players we have now as they have been working so hard for 10 months now. We will intensify things when we get new players in. It is not ideal, but the best we can do in this situation."

As for new players, Morfu said they would keep the core of the team that won them promotion and look at adding some top-flight experience where they felt it was needed.

"There won't be wholesale changes, we believe the core of this squad is good enough to compete in the PSL. But we will be bringing in a few new players."

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