Kerr appointed Marumo ‘consultant’ as coach Malesela is given ‘special leave’

Marumo Gallants have appointed former Swallows FC boss Dylan Kerr as a consultant to an “interim technical team”, with Raymond Mdaka as interim head coach after head coach Dan Malesela was given special leave.

In a bizarre coaching reshuffle, the last-placed DStv Premiership team insisted Malesela remains head coach but has been given time to “recoup energies and develop new strategies”.

“Marumo Gallants have appointed an interim technical consultant. Seasoned football coach Dylan Kerr will fill an advisory position as a consultant, with assistant coach Raymond Mdaka filling in as interim head coach,” the club said on Monday.

“Kerr, Mdaka and Sly Mosala, co-coach of the club’s DDC [reserve] team, will form Gallants’ interim technical team, with immediate effect.

“The changes come as current head coach Dan Malesela and technical director Harris Choeu embark on a period of special leave.

“This break will give Malesela and Choeu the opportunity to recoup energies and observe the team from a distance, to objectively assess the causes of recent results and develop strategies to improve team performance.

“Malesela remains head coach of Gallants.”

Marumo have not won in eight league games, losing six of those. They have won twice in 20 games this campaign, losing nine and drawing nine.

Club chair Abram Sello said the club had to come up with a new strategy.

“I believe Malesela and his team gave their best, however the results show it’s time to reflect and come up with different tactics.

“Losing games takes its toll mentally, physically and emotionally. This opportunity will allow the technical team to re-energise and come back with improved technical strategies.”

The reshuffle points to a muddled coach appointment strategy from the Limpopo team that would explain their poor league position.

Kerr previously worked in strange circumstances at Marumo when they were called Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM), operating for an extended period from the stands without a work permit before finally finding his way to the bench just ahead of the 2021 Nedbank final.

TTM, who had bought the Bidvest Wits franchise under owner Lawrence Mulaudzi, who resold six months later to Sello, ahead of the 2020-21 season, beat Chippa in the Nedbank final and survived relegation in 12th place.

Kerr and Gallants then could not agree on a contract renewal in the following off-season.

Malesela replaced Kerr, left the club to join Royal AM, then returned to the Limpopo team in September.