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Bucs keep faith in Palacios

ORLANDO Pirates have offered Augusto Palacios a permanent coaching job.

Club chairman Irvin Khoza said Palacios has agreed to a one-year contract with an option to renew for a further 12 months.

Khoza said Pirates wanted Palacios to continue building on the success of the recently completed season when the Buccaneers won a second successive treble.

"We are delighted to announce that Augusto has been given a new deal. We urge our spiritual owners (Pirates fans) to support him and his technical staff," said Khoza. "Augusto did very well in helping successfully defend the Absa Premiership title and also qualify for the 2013 African Champions League.

"We had to look at all factors in retaining him. You will recall that the players also pleaded with us to allow him to continue coaching the team in the new season. You cannot tamper with a winning combination if you are serious about sweeping the boards.

"The players enjoy working with Augusto. We hope that harmonious working relationship will bring us more trophies. The good thing with having him on board is that he has managed to instill discipline in the team."

Some of the players who appealed for Khoza and his board to retain Palacios included Benni McCarthy, Lucky Lekgwathi, Daine Klate and Moeneeb Josephs.

Khoza felt that having Palacios at the helm would also make it easier to retain players he had built a strong relationship with during his time in the development ranks.

Palacios was over the moon when Sowetan contacted him yesterday.

"I would like to thank Dr Khoza and his board of directors for their confidence in my coaching expertise.

"This will help me realise my dream of winning the second gold star (Champions League) for Pirates. I know winning the Champions League title is the number one priority for Dr Khoza. I fully agree with him (when he says that) for us in South Africa to say the PSL is the best, we have to monopolise continental soccer competition.

  • Mark Strydom reports that SuperSport United yesterday confirmed the signing of defender Bevan Fransman, after losing star centre-back Morgan Gould to Kaizer Chiefs.
  • Fransman, 28, returns to the Absa Premiership after four years playing in Israel for Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Tel Aviv. He also featured in the European Champions League.

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