TRUE Africa

Familiar face named new Orlando Pirates coach

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - 16 SEPTEMBER: Kaizer Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral reacts during a PSL match between Supersport United and Kaizer Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on 16 September, 2007 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) club Orlando Pirates have selected Turkish tactician Muhsin Ertuğral as their new head coach.

The Soweto club have chosen to employ the experienced coach ahead of the new season, with Eric Tinkler set to leave the club altogether depending on talks with the management of Pirates.

Tinkler was in charge of the Buccaneers since December 2015, but the season ended without any titles or trophies to speak of, and that was unacceptable for a club of Pirates’ stature.

Ertuğral has signed a three-year contact which will allow him to remain at the Orlando Stadium for the next few seasons.

Ertuğral arrives at the club with an impressive CV in South African football, having coached rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town in previous years.

The Turk also coached Mpumalanga Black Aces last season, and will now add the Soweto club to the list of clubs he has managed in the South African top flight, which include Santos and Golden Arrows.

He coached Aces to a fourth-place finish in the PSL in the 2015-16 campaign, and will now work to put together his technical team ahead of the new season.