DANKIE PITSO!

Fungai Muderere
MAMELODI Sundownsaï¿½ï¿½ outspoken gaffer Pitso Mosimane reportedly played a big role in getting former Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas a job at Durban based South Africaaï¿½ï¿½s National First Division side AmaZulu.

Interest in Antipas reportedly began when Chicken Inn beat a well assembled Sundowns 1-0 in the first leg of the Champions League preliminary round at Barbourfields Stadium on 13 February.Aï¿½ The Zimbabwean coach was under the spotlight when the Gamecocks took on the Brazilians in the second leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium, a match Sundowns won 2-0.

Even though the Zimbabweans lost the second leg, they won themselves a lot admiration from neutrals who believed they had played better than Sundowns over the two legs.

aï¿½?I have not spoken to Pitso but I am told he played a big part in getting me to AmaZulu, I do not talk to him much but I will make contact when I start working in South Africa,aï¿½ï¿½aï¿½ï¿½ said Antipas.

At the time of his departure, Antipas revealed that he had no valid contract with the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League Champions, as his previous deal had come to an end at the end of 2015.

Antipas said while talks were still going on with regards a new contract, he agreed to take charge of Chicken Innaï¿½ï¿½s preparations for their maiden appearance in the Confederation of African Football Champions League.

The fine tuning involved a four -team tournament in Zambia.

Asked what the stumbling block was in coming up with an agreement with the Gamecocks owners, Antipas pointed out that after leading Chicken Inn to their first ever league championship; he had looked forward to an improved deal, which never materialised.

However, he was quick to point out that the club was willing to offer him a deal though it took too long for the two sides to agree.

Antipas joined Chicken Inn for the last five matches of the 2013 season without a contract when he replaced Mandla aï¿½?Luluaï¿½ï¿½aï¿½ï¿½ Mpofu.

He entered into a one year deal for 2014 and did the same for 2015. Antipas said he could not commit long term in Bulawayo since his wife Fatima, a consular officer at the Australian Embassy in Harare could not move with him to the City of Kings.

aï¿½?My contract expired 31 December 2015, we were still negotiating for a new contract. I took the assignment to help the team prepare for the Champions League in Zambia. We were still in negotiations but due to the protocol it was taking too long. If your team wins the championship you obviously look at a better package which was on its way but during the negotiations thataï¿½ï¿½s when I was approached by AmaZulu,aï¿½ï¿½aï¿½ï¿½ Antipas said.

Antipas heads to South Africa on 20 June to acclimatise and get used to life in Durban before he takes charge of Usuthuaï¿½ï¿½s pre-season training on 1 July.

He takes over from South Africa Steve Barker at the Durban based club after agreeing on a 24 month contract with an option a one year extension.