De Sa appointed new Pirates coach
Former BidVest Wits coach Roger de Sa was on Monday named as new Orlando Pirates coach. Current boss Augusto Palacios, who has stepped aside due to health reasons, will return to the club’s academy once he has recovered.
De Sa, whose appointment is with immediate effect, has ten years' experience as a coach having started his coaching career as a player/coach at Wits University. He won coach of the season in his first year as coach of Wits University and in 2010 won the Nedbank Cup.
"Roger is a team player who has worked in various capacities for our senior and junior national teams, including being roped in to the technical team of the Portuguese national team during the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
"I have no doubt that he will find the new challenge at Orlando Pirates a worthwhile enhancement to his career," said Pirates chairman Dr Irvin Khoza.
"This has to be the right time as I had years ago contacted the chairman for this job to no avail. When I got the chairman's call I was obviously delighted as I believe I am up to the task at hand," said De Sa.
De Sa is an accomplished athlete who represented South Africa in three sporting codes - soccer, indoor soccer and basketball in one year.
Palacios will revert to his position in the development structures of Pirates "with due consideration to his recovery which is expected to take several months after undergoing major spinal surgery".
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