Malesela faces axe at Chippa United for second time
Dan Malesela is expected to be fired by Chippa United on Wednesday after only three matches into the start of the new soccer season‚ a source at the Absa Premiership club confirmed on Tuesday evening.
Former Orlando Pirates‚ Cape Town City and SuperSport United coach Eric Tinkler is expected to be named as his replacement.
The source‚ who did not want to be named‚ told the Dispatch that a meeting had been convened to discuss the firing of Malesela following a poor start to the 2018-19 season for Chippa United.
He told the Dispatch on Tuesday night: “I don’t know if I have been fired or not. I am awaiting official word from the club to tell me what is happening because I have been getting these calls [tonight].
“Nothing has been said to me by the club. I have not spoken to the chairman [Siviwe Mpengesi] yet. But if there is news about me then there must be something going on. There is no smoke without fire.”
Asked what may have triggered a decision to fire him, Malesela said: “I had not won in three games last season and I was fired, and now I haven’t won in three games this season as well.
“In my contract there is no statement that says if I lose three matches I will be fired,” he added.
“You cannot weigh me on three matches.”
Attempts to reach Mpengesi and chief operating officer Lukhanyo Mzinzi for comment proved unsuccessful last night.
Malesela, a 1980s Orlando Pirates captain, was in his second stint as coach.
After he was fired by Chippa last season, Malesela said he would never return to the club.
Eight months later, he made a surprise return to the Port Elizabeth-based team in May, replacing Serbian coach Vladislav Heric.