The Absa Premiership coaching merry-go-round was in full swing on Tuesday as Gordon Igesund resigned from his post with Maritzburg United and Sammy Troughton was given the boot by Mpumalanga Black Aces.
The dismissal of Troughton was widely anticipated, despite the former Arcadia and Mamelodi Sundowns player helping the Witbank club gain promotion to the Premier League last season.
But the resignation of Igesund, the one-time ”Golden Boy” of the PSL, who has guided four different clubs to a record four titles, came like a sudden bolt of lightning heralding an unforeseen Highveld thunderstorm.
Igesund cited ”personal reasons” for his decision and remained silent about his future plans — although the rumour mongers were quick to link him to the position at Aces made vacant by Troughton’s departure.
However, Aces are in a more parlous, resignation-threatened position in the PSL log than 12th positioned Maritzburg and any move by Igesund in this direction might be likened to a jump from the frying pan into the fire.
Ian Palmer, currently coaching African Warriors in the second division, has already been linked with Maritzburg — although a statement from the club’s board of directors intimated that Igesund’s decision had come as ”a complete surprise”.
Maritzburg’s 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Santos over the weekend probably contributed to Igesund’s resignation, but there must have been a great deal more to him fuelling the fires of discontent than one bad result.
Meanwhile, Troughton has been offered the Director of Football position at Aces; with club chairman Mario Morfu declaring: ”He is a great guy and was the obvious choice as coach in our maiden season in the Premier League. However the results were not forthcoming and we had to make a business decision.”
When it comes to the soccer coaching business, however, it would appear that ”great guys” often end up finishing last.
And to emphasise that Aces were more than a little impatient over their up-and-down results this season was the fact that Morfu revealed ”a new coach has already been appointed — and he will be unveiled on Wednesday.” — Sapa