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Madida takes Birds reins from Marques

IN: Fani Madida
IN: Fani Madida

FORMER Kaizer Chiefs goal ace Fani Madida will temporarily take over the reins at Moroka Swallows after beleaguered coach Zeca Marques confirmed yesterday that he had left the Birds nest.

Marques described his departure as "the best thing for the club" following a series of defeats.

Madida's first big test - if he is to try and get the job permanently after he joined Marques's backroom staff at the start of the season - is against Chiefs at FNB Stadium tomorrow night.

The Dube Birds are in 12th place on the Absa Premiership table having managed three wins and suffered losses in the rest of their eight matches so far.

"I need to take a break," said Marques yesterday. "The club has been good to me, but I decided it was time to leave because the results were not coming and it was in the best interest of the club that I go. Fani is there and will be in charge until they find a coach, but I haven't made any recommendations. It's up to the club to find the right person."

Swallows boss Leon Prins had publicly backed the coach to turn things around even as the hostility escalated at every home game , with fans demanding that both Marques and Prins leave .

Saturday afternoon proved to be the last straw as Swallows were beaten 3-2 by Mpumalanga Black Aces.

Marques seemed the right fit at Swallows after he clinched the MTN8 trophy two months after he succeeded Gordon Igesund two seasons ago. But it has been downhill from there, with the Dube Birds unable to defend their title .

Marques is the fifth coach to be out of a job this season. Cavin Johnson began the merry-go-round when he was sacked by SuperSport United after four Premier League matches and was followed by Boebie Solomons at Polokwane City. Chippa United and Kosta Papic went their separate ways. AmaZulu replaced Craig Rosslee with his assistant Wilfred Mugeyi last week.

 

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