Orlando Pirates introduced Kosta Papic on Tuesday as the new head coach for the Buccaneers, who have not had a mentor since Roy Barretto left last October.
The Yugoslavian, who has spent quality time coaching top clubs in Nigeria, takes over from Augusto Palacios.
Palacios, who has been at the helm but as a caretaker coach, is in fact the club’s development programme director.
Papic holds qualifications in physical education from the University of Novi Sad, in the former Yugoslavia, and has experience in both coaching and management of football at the highest level.
He will only take over after the CAF Cup match in Cameroon.
The chairperson of Pirates, Dr Irvin Khoza, described Papic as a vastly experienced and knowledgeable manager of the modern game.
He is an accredited coach who began his football career with FC Slavija in 1984.
Papic started coaching at FC Mladost and went on to coach many leading sides in Eastern Europe before relocating to Africa.
He coached FC Loby Star, FC Enyimba and FC Rangers, all from Nigeria.
”He had a highly successful period as a coach something that bodes well for his tenure with Orlando Pirates.
”He will take full control of the team just after we have sorted out his work permit,” said Khoza at a media briefing at the Johannesburg Stadium (Pirates’ home ground) on Tuesday.
Papic has been given a three-year contract but Khoza said two years are optional.
”It will be up to him to either to stay or go after spending that year.”
Papic said he is honoured to be given the job of Pirates coach.
”This is one of the best and biggest clubs in Africa. I am proud to be the coach. I know I will be asked about pressure to coach such a big club. Look, that is a normal thing in this profession.
”All I can say for now — hard work bring results,” he said.
Khoza, the local football honcho who chaired the successful bid for South Africa to host the finals of the World Cup in 2010, was brutally honest about Papic’s future prospects.
”We will present him with the history of the club. Either he matches or emulate what previous coaches have delivered,” he said.
The black-and-white outfit, which was established 65 years ago, has a rich history.
Pirates became the first club from South Africa to win the African Champions Cup in 1995. They followed up by taking the African Super Club Championships in 1996.
They are the winners of the Top 8 competition in 1972, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1993, 1996 and 2000, and also won the Charity Cup Competition in 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999 and 20001.
Khoza’s club also claimed the Vodacom Challenge Cup in its inception in 1999.
But they have finished third on three subsequent occasions and that is what Khoza and the entire followers of Pirates want to change. — Sapa