Dan ‘Dance’ Malesela, one of the three co-coaches for Royal AM, is rumored to be returning to Marumo Gallants, according to rumors from Durban.
The 57-year-old coach’s decision to leave Thwihli Thwahla sent shockwaves throughout the football community, casting additional doubt on the lineage and effectiveness of technical teams now utilizing the ‘co-coaching’ format.
Malesela led Bahlabane Ba Ntwa to a 10th-place finish in the DStv Premiership and a runner-up finish in the Nedbank Cup, losing to Mamelodi Sundowns, during the ten months he spent with the club in the previous season.
Malesela was then unexpectedly released at the conclusion of what many considered to be a successful season; he even admitted his surprise upon learning from his neighbor that he was no longer a member of the team.
He has opted to return to the Limpopo-based club, who presently occupy a position in the relegation zone. It appears that the situation he accepted at Royal AM was not to his liking, as he has decided to return to the club.
Two months ago, former Orlando Pirates head coach Fadlu Davids reminisced on his time with the Buccaneers after being fired at the conclusion of the previous season.
Davids served as an assistant to Rulani Mokwena, Milutin Sredojevic, and Josef Zinnbauer before being named as co-coach alongside Mandla Ncikazi in the 2021/22 season, in which the team placed sixth and was runner-up in the CAF Confederations Cup.
While it may be working for the unbeatable Sundowns, the limitations of operating in such an atmosphere make it practically impossible for a team using co-coaches to be successful, according to the 41-year-old.
The combination of Mokwena, Manqoba Mngqithi, and Steve Komphela have led the Brazilians to two league wins, two Nedbank Cup victories, and an MTN8 trophy. Their productive partnership has reaped benefits and maintained Sundowns’ dominance in domestic soccer.
However, the compromise of individual ideas and problem-solving approaches makes it impossible to maintain a co-coaching structure, an ideology that may be strongly related to Malesela’s desire to return to a head coaching position.
It is understandable that ‘Dance,’ as he is affectionately referred as, would be interested in a different opportunity to lead his own technical staff, given that he is the owner of a distinct brand of football as demonstrated during his Chippa United and TS Galaxy days.
Malesela, together with coaches Abram Nteo and Khabo Zondo, have not had a terrible beginning to the 2022/23 season. Although they were eliminated in the first round of the MTN8, they are currently fourth in the DStv Premiership standings, just three points behind the league-leading Sundowns.