Surprise coach offered to Orlando Pirates – report

Orlando Pirates claimed a priceless victory in their first leg CAF Confederation Cup semi-final against Al Ahly Tripoli in Libya on Sunday.

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The Buccaneers won 2-0 to take a handy lead into the second leg next Sunday, 15 May at the Orlando Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 18:00. Despite this result, Pirates are dwindling down in sixth place on the DStv Premiership log, while the Soweto giants also crashed out of the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup.

Co-coaches Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids are well-entrenched in their positions, but according to Soccer Laduma, Algerian-born mentor Adel Amrouche – who has been on the Pirates radar before – could be interested in a role with the Buccaneers.

“Adel Amrouche is currently unattached and is open to coming to South Africa in his next deal. He is a big coach and he’s got people in South Africa who are working on offering him to Pirates for next season,” said the Soccer Laduma source.  

“He is the same coach who was on the radar of Chiefs at some point. The coach is keen to work in the PSL because he says he has worked in North, East, Central and elsewhere in Africa but it is in the Southern part of the continent that he hasn’t got a fair chance with a good project. He is an experienced coach who holds a Uefa Pro License.”

Meanwhile, former Pirates striker Andries Sebola – as quoted by KickOff.com – has now called for co-coaches Ncikazi and Davids to rather make way for someone like Benni McCarthy, who is without a job after being let go by AmaZulu.

“Those two must not be kept as head coaches because at Pirates we don’t want to be associated with being second best. Pirates must be for the best and that means being first and winning trophies.

“Sundowns cannot keep on dominating like this while we just watch like that just because of the issue of coaches at Pirates.

“Why should we be losing to TS Galaxy when we say we have coaches at Pirates and are a club that wants to go back to the Champions League and not Confederation Cup?

“The only thing that management must do is look for a new coach next season,” Sebola added.

“Look for someone who is not coming from South Africa. Otherwise, if it is a local guy then let it be Benni McCarthy who I prefer based on that he did well with AmaZulu last season.

“It is only this season that things didn’t go well for him at AmaZulu. So, if they are to opt for a local coach then it has to be Benni because he is the only local coach available for that job.”

PIRATES ARE SET TO BANK UPWARDS OF R20 MILLION IF THEY ARE ABLE TO GO ALL THE WAY AND SECURE THE CAF CONFEDERATION CUP

As broken down in a report by KickOff.com, Pirates have already banked $450 000 (approximately R7,266 million) for reaching the semi-final, and they are now well-placed to progress to the title decider.

Lifting the CAF Confederation Cup would see them walk away with $1,25 million (approximately R20,156 million), while the runners-up would claim $625 000 (approximately R10,078 million).

Confederation Cup winners would also go on to CAF Super Cup once-off final in early August, which is worth $200 000 (approximately R3,2 million).

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