Maritzburg head hunt Da Gama
2008-07-03 07:49
Johannesburg - The future of Ian Palmer as coach at Maritzburg United continues to hang by a thread following revelations that the club management has approached Owen Da Gama.
Though the names of Bibey Mutombo, Paul Dolezar and Gordon Igesund - who was paid R250 000 upfront by Thanda Royal Zulu last season for three games - have been mentioned, it is believed that Maritzburg's management has set its sights on the jobless Da Gama.
Da Gama has been without a job since leaving Orlando Pirates, whom he joined after a lengthy spell at Platinum Stars.
Sources have said that management appears not to have much faith in Palmer, his assistant Ashwin Sutton and goalkeeper coach Pernell McKop in the ranks of the PSL.
Though Palmer has achieved his mandate of guiding the team back to the PSL, the club is dragging its feet towards agreeing on a new contract with the former FC AK coach.
Informed sources say Palmer will only be given the chance of continuing in his job if management don't get their preferred man for the job - Da Gama.
Contracts
Palmer has already left for his home in Johannesburg and continues to be in dark about his future at the club.
While the club has already released 10 players several others are yet to extend their contracts.
The only players known to still have contracts with the club are those who were with the club when it campaigned in the PSL, like Collen Zimba and Lynch Pule.
All the players that were signed at the beginning of the past season, including star performers Fadlu Davids, Ghana midfielder John Aruwah and Zimbabwean goalkeeper Dominic Sithole were on one-year contracts that expired at the end of June.
Aruwah is understood to have attracted the interest of SuperSport United, who are desperately searching for a holding midfielder.
Left sided midfielder Omar Hendricks - formerly with Santos - has also attracted the attention of his former coach Roger De Sa.
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