Alex’s Benson Mhlongo is now Pirates assistant coach
JOBURG – Alexandra's own Benson Mhlongo has been appointed to the technical staff of Orlando Pirates.
Alexandra’s illustrious former Bafana Bafana defender cum midfielder, Benson Mhlongo, has been appointed to the coaching department of Orlando Pirates as a second assistant coach.
The former Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, Bidvest Wits and lately, Platinum Stars player, cut his teeth at local club, Alex Parma before being loaned to Alex United, an ABC Motsepe League outfit (1998 to 1999) and later moving to City Sharks (1999 to 2000).
Mhlongo was then snapped up by Wits (2001 to 2005) to start his professional career and quickly established himself as a defender cum midfielder of note and was called into the Bafana fold in 2003.
Mhlongo then moved from Wits to join the millionaires, Sundowns, where he had the highest number of appearances, 76 in total compared to 55 at Wits and 41 at the Mighty Buccaneers.
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Announcing the appointment of Mhlongo (36), Pirates and Premier Soccer League chairperson, Dr Irvin ‘Iron Duke’ Khoza expressed his delight at giving an opportunity to a young up-and-coming South African coach.
“It is important for us to move on from the disruption that has necessitated the changes made to the technical team. To this end we have also brought in Benson Mhlongo as the second assistant coach,” said Khoza, alluding to the disruptions caused by the sudden departure of head coach, Muhsin Ertugral following the team’s 6–1 humiliating defeat at the hands of SuperSport United in a midweek Absa Premiership game.
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The appointment of Mhlongo follows that of Augusto Palacios as the temporary head coach, a long-standing right-hand man of Khoza, who is currently in the development ranks of the club.
“With the experience of Palacios and the enthusiasm of our assistant coaches, Bradley Carnell and Benson Mhlongo, I am confident that we have a capable technical bench that can take this team forward,” Khoza said.
Palacios also welcomed the appointment of Mhlongo when he addressed a media conference ahead of his team’s outing in the Telkom Knockout quarterfinal against the maidens of the league, Highlands Park.
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