John Maduka Maritzburg

Coach John Maduka’s job is reportedly on the line. Photo: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix

Celtic coach Maduka to take the reins for Royal AM’s PSL debut

Former Bloemfontein Celtic coach John Maduka appears set to be asked to mentor Royal AM in their maiden top-flight season.

John Maduka Maritzburg

Coach John Maduka’s job is reportedly on the line. Photo: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix

Former Bloemfontein Celtic coach John Maduka appears set to be asked to mentor Royal AM in their maiden top-flight season.

Maduka is among the staff and players from the Celtic camp whose contracts have been transferred to their new owners in Durban.

Celtic coach Maduka to take the reins

Bloemfontein Celtic boss Max Tshabalala had assured players and staff that their contracts would be honoured by Royal Am, although it goes without saying that the two full squads cannot all be registered for the upcoming season.

Royal AM owner Shauwn Mkhize will need to determine how to merge the technical teams but at this stage Maduka is the best option they have with his experience of the league and knowledge of the Celtic players.

Despite long-running financial issues Celtic remained competitive in the Premiership, but the club were hit with a two transfer window ban for failure to pay compensation to released former goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb. While the PSL helped the club pay the R3 million owed to the player eventually, there is little doubt that this saga played a huge part in the decision to sell the club to Royal AM.

Tshabalala revealed that he had discussed backroom staff with Royal AM chair Mkhize, and the Durban socialite and businesswoman was eager to keep the Siwelele technical team.

“The chairlady said she wants all the technical team,” Tshabalala said.

“The technical team will be the head coach, John Maduka, Abraham ‘Wire’ Nteo, [Ditheko] Mototo and Simon Gopane. They also want the physical trainer and the [performance] analyst.”

The playing group is set to be assessed in the coming weeks before decisions are made on loan deals, releases and transfer listings.

Celtic were set to kick off their PSL with a trip to Soweto to face Swallows on Sunday. The club will still compete under the Bloemfontein Celtic moniker for the upcoming season with the change in name to take effect from the 2022/23 season.

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