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Pietermaritzburg - Maritzburg United spokesperson Brian Zuma has outlined the reasons behind outgoing head coach Clive Barker‘s departure from the Team of Choice after being at the helm for only two months despite having a two-year contract.
It appeared that Maritzburg under Barker may have turned the corner with their last two results which saw them beat the University of Pretoria 1-0 and then a 1-1 draw at home against reigning champions Kaizer Chiefs.
But the Team of Choice are still bottom of the table, with just five points from 11 fixtures.
Zuma revealed that the 1996 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) winning coach took a brave decision by putting the club interests before his own.
“The coach resigned after a meeting with the chairman discussing the current situation and the way forward,” Zuma told Sport24 in an exclusive interview on Tuesday
“A strategic decision had to be made regarding the club retaining its PSL status, and the coach decided to put the club’s interests ahead of his.”
With former Golden Arrows mentor Shaun Bartlett and Clinton Larsen (formerly with Bloemfontein Celtic) still clubless, Zuma stressed that the KwaZulu-Natal based outfit are not yet considering one of the duo but the management team will have a meeting to discuss a way forward and unveil the new coach in three weeks’ time.
“There are many clubless coaches, not just the two you have mentioned,” Zuma insisted
“The chairman and his board will be looking for a coach that will be up to the task of steering the club away from the dreaded relegation zone we find ourselves in.
“Therefore an announcement will be made when the process of engagement has been finalised.
“At most three weeks,” said Zuma.
