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PSL coaches will fall!

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Eric Tinkler (Gallo Images)
Eric Tinkler (Gallo Images)

There is one thing that will almost certainly happen at the University of Pretoria in the next few days: #SammyWillFall!

Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler is also skating on thin ice at the Buccaneers after yet another league defeat to Golden Arrows.

Despite doing well on the continent by reaching the CAF Confederation Cup, Tinkler knows the hard-to-please Bucs supporters won’t forgive him if he does not do well on the domestic front.

Even if he wins the Confederation Cup, failure to capture any of the local competitions might spell disaster for him. Pirates have been blowing hot and cold on the domestic front.

Tinkler will have to improve Pirates’ fortunes against local opposition or he could get fired.

Sammy Troughton, the AmaTuks coach, has won only one of his opening six matches in charge so far; it seems his chances of staying on are equivalent to the demands by students over fee increases – 0%!

Troughton’s days at the University of Pretoria are numbered, with reports suggesting the club has already lined up Kosta Papic as his possible replacement.

With one victory out of seven matches in all competitions, Troughton finds himself on the brink of being fired, with Tuks sitting at 14th on the league table.

And just like the #FeesMustFall campaign started on one campus and rapidly spread to the rest, Troughton is not the only one who faces the chop. Coaches in other camps are confronted with the same headache.

Troughton’s neighbour and former Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund was hanging by a thread at SuperSport United after a poor start, but back-to-back victories over Arrows and Chippa United have eased the pressure on him.

Hardly a third of the league games have been played, but already three coaches have bitten the dust. Who is next?

The appearance of former Bafana coach Stuart Baxter on these shores last month could have just saved two of his successors their jobs – only just!

The return to the country of two-time league-winning Baxter was the much-needed tonic for some coaches, who immediately got their acts together.

Pitso Mosimane was under tremendous pressure from Mamelodi Sundowns supporters. But their fortunes changed after winning three league games on the trot.

That does not mean he is out of the woods as yet.

But knowing Sundowns boss Patrice Motsepe, Mosimane could still be ousted if he fails to turn around the Brazilians’ poor play for good.

It could be disaster for Igesund, who was seen as the man to deliver yet another league championship for Matsatsantsa after a five-year barren spell. The club matched his big reputation with a generous open cheque book. United were the busiest on the market earlier in the season, bringing big-name experienced players – Bongani Khumalo, Dean Furman, Michael Boxall, Phumelele Bhengu and Isaka Cernak.

But things are not going according to script for the former Bafana mentor. United were knocked out of the MTN8 and their league form has not been impressive either.

Having been able to turn things around when he was brought in to replace Cavin Johnson last season, Igesund is still capable of repeating the trick, especially with the talented arsenal at his disposal. But time is not on his side.

Elsewhere, if Chippa United’s fortunes do not change soon, the on-off marriage between Roger Sikhakhane and Chippa Mpengesi could be off again.

Sikhakhane, who has been in and out of the Eastern Cape side, is on a rocky path, as the Chilly Boys have been misfiring.

Despite saving Free State Stars from relegation last season, Kinnah Phiri was the first to be shown the exit after a poor start this season. Stars lost their opening three games, but have since arrested their poor run with three wins and a draw.

Mandla Ncikazi was the second to vacate his position at Maritzburg United and was replaced by former Bafana coach Clive Barker.

Papic might insist he jumped ship and was not pushed at Polokwane City, but the writing was on the wall. With just one victory in seven matches, there was no way he could have survived the chop. He saw it coming and decided to pack his bags.

Knowing how trigger-happy club bosses are, more casualties are expected to follow.

#WhoWillFall next?

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