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Cape Town - Josef Zinnbauer has revealed that he rejected higher paying offers before deciding to take the Orlando Pirates coaching job.
As an unknown quantity in South Africa, Zinnbauer's appointment as the new Buccaneers head coach came as a big surprise to most onlookers, but the German says he had a good feeling about joining the Soweto outfit.
The former Hamburger SV and St Gallen head coach revealed during Pirates' media day that he opted to pass on numerous other clubs before deciding to take on the challenge of leading Bucs.
"I got a call. Yes. We have phones in Germany‚" he joked when asked if he was called about the Pirates job, as quoted by TimesLive.
"We have emails‚ and yeah."
He continued: "No‚ my cell phone was ringing, and I said‚ 'Hi'. And they said‚ 'Hi‚ I am from Pirates'.
"Yes‚ this was the normal way. My agent called me and said‚ 'You can go to South Africa'. But six weeks before that I had another offer from Africa. But I said‚ 'No‚ I won't take this'.
"But Pirates is a good club. This was important for me. In the last seven months or so I have had 10 offers - from Cyprus‚ from Turkey‚ many countries.
"But I waited. And I had time. And I had a contract in Switzerland. It was easy for me.
"And then I had a good feeling. This was important for me. I was in Australia‚ and I did not have a good feeling for that. And then I had a good feeling that I could do good work.
"Like you maybe‚ you follow the money. But I don't follow the money. Before I had offers where I could follow the money. But I have the time for this (Pirates)."
Zinnbauer will face his biggest test to date on Wednesday when Pirates host Mamelodi Sundowns at Orlando Stadium.
Kick-off is at 19:30.
- TeamTalk Media
Channel 202
