Maritzburg United Confirm New Coach
Maritzburg United Confirm New Coach! Maritzburg United have announced the appointment of John Maduka as their next head coach ahead of the upcoming 2022/23 DStv Premiership. Maduka signed a three-year deal with the Team of Choice that will see his contract running out in 2025.
He takes the reins following the sacking of Ernst Middendorp who though saved the club from relegation. Maduka joins the Pietermaritzburg-based team after resigning at Royal AM.
Apparently, the Malawian coach wasn’t happy with the treatment at the club of Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize. The sacking of Maduka’s technical team he arrived with from Bloemfontein is another factor that drove him away from the new wealthy club.
Maritzburg United statement:
“John Maduka has been officially appointed as the Head Coach of the Team Of Choice,” Maritzburg United announced on Twitter.
“The former Bloemfontein Celtic and Royal AM head coach has signed a 3-year contract, until June 2025, with the Team of Choice and will officially start at the club for pre-season ahead of the start of the 2022/2023 DStv Premiership season.
“The 51-year-old Maduka previously coached Bloemfontein Celtic during the 2020/21 season and led the side to the final of the MTN 8 before being at the helm at Royal AM during the recently concluded 2021/2022 DStv Premiership season.
“Maduka guided the club to the semi-final of the Nedbank Cup and third position in the league while producing a brand of football that was highly entertaining and effective together with developing many young talents within the club.”
Everyone knows the support base Maritzburg have from their community. Most of the time, the Team of Choice’s home games are played on Friday nights when many people would be already feeling weekend vibes and the stadium is always a place to welcome the weekend.
Maduka loves the passion of Blue Army. “It is a huge honour for me to represent and coach a club with the tradition and support base of Maritzburg United,” Maduka said at the press conference.
“I am very excited to get started. After discussions with the chairman and the board, I felt their passion, ambition and desire to be successful.
“I feel my ambition, together with my work ethic, can work to achieve the desired results for the club.
“Upon each visit to the Harry Gwala Stadium, one can feel the passion that the “Blue Army” has for this club and this support will be hugely important for the team in the upcoming season.”
“This is a wonderful opportunity, but there is also a lot of work ahead of us and I am eager to get onto the training ground to start working with the players.”
“I would like to thank the club’s owners for this opportunity and for the incredible welcome they have already given me. I am very excited to begin our journey together.”
