FORMER Tigers coach Ali Akan will be in charge of South African Mvela Golden League side City Pillars this season, after he signed a one-year contract recently.
Akan, who is currently in SA, has an option to renew the deal after he was clubless for most of the second-round matches in the Namibia premiership last season. Akan’s business manager, Collin April, confirmed to The Namibian Sport yesterday that Akan would mainly have the task of getting the side into the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL).”His mission is to get the team into the premiership and from there he will be given an opportunity to continue with them or he can decide otherwise,” said April, who has been instrumental in getting several Namibian players into the PSL and the Mvela Golden League, which serves as the first division in that country.When contacted yesterday, Akan, who has been involved in Namibian football for about 11 years, said he was extremely happy with the deal.”I think I made a good move.I am very happy here at the moment.The good thing is that I am working with professionals and the management has been very friendly and helpful since I arrived here,” he said.Akan, who was regarded as controversial figure because of his straight talk in local football circles, said he was sad that the Namibian football authorities did not appreciate his services.”During the time that I was in Namibia, I worked with good players, but it was unfortunate that my services at times were not appreciated by some football bosses and this has made me consider other options,” he said.City Pillars missed out on the PSL after losing during the promotion playoffs, but ended second behind Bidvest Wits who were promoted.They will be one of the strongest contenders for promotion at the end of the 2006/2007 season.The Turkish-born Akan said he was already looking at two Namibian players that he wants to include in his team, but he still needs to get approval from the board of directors for such a move.”I definitely want players from Namibia and I have identified two.I have seen a match at the weekend and we need a central defender and another one on the right.These positions are still being discussed.But we will have these players before the season starts,” he said.Akan formerly coached Namibia Premier League champions Civics and achieved a remarkable feat with them, when he only lost one match from a total of 30 matches in a season.Akan also coached Black Africa and Blue Waters, but was never given a shot at coaching any national team.He was the only Namibian resident to apply for the Brave Warriors coaching job this year.Zambia’s Ben Bamfuchile was appointed as the coach.Akan officially took charge of his new team yesterday and this weekend they will engage Supersport United and Jomo Cosmos as part of their pre-season matches.Akan said he had already received his schedule of pre-season matches and was working with his coaching staff on how they would approach the new season, which starts early next month.Akan’s business manager, Collin April, confirmed to The Namibian Sport yesterday that Akan would mainly have the task of getting the side into the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL).”His mission is to get the team into the premiership and from there he will be given an opportunity to continue with them or he can decide otherwise,” said April, who has been instrumental in getting several Namibian players into the PSL and the Mvela Golden League, which serves as the first division in that country.When contacted yesterday, Akan, who has been involved in Namibian football for about 11 years, said he was extremely happy with the deal.”I think I made a good move.I am very happy here at the moment.The good thing is that I am working with professionals and the management has been very friendly and helpful since I arrived here,” he said.Akan, who was regarded as controversial figure because of his straight talk in local football circles, said he was sad that the Namibian football authorities did not appreciate his services.”During the time that I was in Namibia, I worked with good players, but it was unfortunate that my services at times were not appreciated by some football bosses and this has made me consider other options,” he said.City Pillars missed out on the PSL after losing during the promotion playoffs, but ended second behind Bidvest Wits who were promoted.They will be one of the strongest contenders for promotion at the end of the 2006/2007 season.The Turkish-born Akan said he was already looking at two Namibian players that he wants to include in his team, but he still needs to get approval from the board of directors for such a move.”I definitely want players from Namibia and I have identified two.I have seen a match at the weekend and we need a central defender and another one on the right.These positions are still being discussed.But we will have these players before the season starts,” he said.Akan formerly coached Namibia Premier League champions Civics and achieved a remarkable feat with them, when he only lost one match from a total of 30 matches in a season.Akan also coached Black Africa and Blue Waters, but was never given a shot at coaching any national team.He was the only Namibian resident to apply for the Brave Warriors coaching job this year.Zambia’s Ben Bamfuchile was appointed as the coach.Akan officially took charge of his new team yesterday and this weekend they will engage Supersport United and Jomo Cosmos as part of their pre-season matches.Akan said he had already received his schedule of pre-season matches and was working with his coaching staff on how they would approach the new season, which starts early next month.
