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Johannesburg - Zeca Marques will be retained as head coach of Moroka Swallows next season, the club's CEO Leon Prins has confirmed, despite the Birds failing to qualify to defend their MTN8 cup title.
Prins said on Wednesday that Marques had achieved creditable results under difficult circumstances.
"Remember Zeca was hoisted into the coach's hot seat from his position as assistant coach only a matter of days before the start of the season, after Safa had nabbed Gordon Igesund from our grasp to take charge of Bafana at a time when he was doing wonders at the club," said Prins.
"It would not have been easy for anyone to take over the reins from Gordon under the circumstances and Zeca has done a good job and not let the club down."
Cape Town-based Prins said the trip from Johannesburg after the top-eight Premiership positions had been decided on Saturday, with Swallows missing out on goal difference after drawing 1-1 against Bloemontein Celtic in Dobsonville, was the loneliest journey of his life.
"Apart from the heartbreak of not being able to defend the MTN crown, it means a huge financial blow for the club not participating in the top-eight competition after winning the event and finishing runners-up in the last two seasons."
Prins also lamented the loss of key players Bennett Chunene and David Mathebula, who will be joining SuperSport United next season.
"The criticism over them leaving that has been levelled at the club's administration is unfair," he said.
"We made them extremely competitive offers to stay at Swallows. I can only presume SuperSport offered them even more money."
Prins said Swallows were in the market for replacements and hoped to fill the gaps with players of equal ability.
