Nomadic Drago lands at TAFIC
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday June 16, 2017 15:48
Stanlojovic joins from Sankoyo Bush Bucks after spells at Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Extension Gunners. The Serbian replaces Elias Chinyemba who guided the team back to the premiership. Chinyemba was holding fort after the club parted ways with Blessing Moyo mid season. Chinyemba will assume his role of assistant coach.
TAFIC spokesperson, Warrant Kolola said Stanlojovic has been tasked with finishing in the top 10 in his first season with a top eight finish targeted in the second.
“Drago has acclimatised in the country now and he talks about local football passionately and with a crisp understanding,” he said.
“We believe he is the right man for the job. He has the right energy and experience that we need. We have no doubts about that. With the right support, he is capable of surpassing the target we put before him.”
He said the coach is expected to report for duty on Monday. He said following the two- week trials that ended last week, they have identified seven players who have joined the team in light training and the whole group will be assessed further by Stanlojovic before the coach submits his final squad.
Stanlojovic is also expected to handle the recruitment process. From the entire squad that helped the side to promotion only two foreign players have been released. The duo is Zimbabwe’s Simbarashe Sithole and the South African Stuart Matlala. “The good thing is Drago has worked with a number of local teams and he is a man who follows the local game and he knows a pool of players and as thus we believe he will recruit the right players to suit his game.”
Kolola said the technical manager is engaged in arrangements for the Eritrean players to return for a week long training with the first team after they left an impression on the technical team during trials.
He said after assembling the final 25-men team they will roll a plan to assemble at a place yet to be announced for final preparations ahead of the league.
“We will kick the boxes and see what we can come up with to assemble somewhere to build the team spirit. We can’t mention our destination now. It might be out of the country or somewhere locally where it will not cost us an arm and a leg but we will assemble for team spirit building ahead of the season’s kick off.”