Former Newcastle United Player Nikodimos Papavasiliou Keeps an Eye on the DStv Premiership, Open to a PSL Move

Former Newcastle United Player Nikodimos Papavasiliou Keeps an Eye on the DStv Premiership, Open to a PSL Move

Byron Pillay
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:59 PM
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  • Nikodimos 'Nikki' Papavasiliou has expressed interest in taking up a coaching role in the Premier Soccer League
  • Nikodimos Papavasiliou is better known for his time as a player as he enjoyed a spell with Newcastle United
  • The former Newcastle United player keeps an eye on the Premier Soccer League and is friends with Gavin Hunt and Pitso Mosimane

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) in South Africa has had its fair share of foreign coaches over the years, some who have had success and some who failed after a few months.

Cypriot, Nikodimos 'Nikki' Papavasiliou, has now also expressed interest in trying his hand at coaching in the PSL after a stint in Egypt.

Former Player, Newcastle United, Nikodimos Papavasiliou, DStv Premiership, Soccer, Sport, Football, South Africa
Former Newcastle United player, Nikodimos Papavasiliou, has expressed an interest in coaching in South Africa and keeps an eye on the Premier Soccer League. Image: @nikpapa10
Source: Instagram

Papavasiliou is more renowned as a player, as he became the first Cypriot to play in the English Premier League. Papavasiliou played for Newcastle United during the 1993/94 season, under Kevin Keegan.

As reported by KickOff, Papavasiliou admitted that he followed the PSL and was friends with Gavin Hunt and Pitso Mosimane.

“There are clubs looking for coaches all over and I follow the PSL because I did the A licence with Gavin Hunt in England plus I’m good friends with Pitso Mosimane from my time working in Egypt,” he said.
“I talk to Gavin all the time about the level of competition in South Africa,” Papavasiliou added.

Gavin Hunt himself is without a job currently and is looking for a new challenge. Papavasiliou also noted that with seven games left in the season, clubs could be on the hunt for a new manager for the new season.

He also spoke about Sundowns’ dominance in the league and how other sides were chasing that level. Papavasiliou’s last major coaching job was in Egypt, where he spent a year as the manager of Wadi Degla.

The club parted ways with the manager in 2021, after just 25 games, KingFut.com reported. During that time, the team won six games, lost 10 and drew nine.

Egypt's Hossam El Badry, interested in Kaizer Chiefs job, was previously linked with the role at the Amakhosi

A new name has been linked with the coaching role at Kaizer Chiefs, despite Stuart Baxter remaining firmly in charge of the Amakhosi, Sports Brief earlier reported.

Egypt's Hossam El Badry has expressed his interest in coaching the Amakhosi if a vacancy were to arise at the Naturena. El Badry has a host of coaching qualifications, having previously led Al Ahly to CAF Champions League glory and enjoying a stint as the Egyptian national team coach.

As reported by Soccer Laduma, El Badry was also previously linked with the Kaizer Chiefs job. In 2018, El Badry was one of the few candidates mentioned as a possible replacement for Steve Komphela.

Authors
Byron Pillay photo
Byron Pillay
Byron Pillay is a sports writer and Head of the Department at Sports Brief (joined in 2022) with over 10 years of experience in community journalism and a degree in journalism from Caxton's Cadet School.
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DStv PremiershipSouth Africa