Dan Malesela Earns Draw on Return to Coaches' Bench With Baroka FC

• Dan Malesela took charge of Baroka FC in October
• The Motsepe Foundation Championship team were relegated from the Premier Soccer League in 2021/2022
• The experienced Malesela has a record of reviving the fortunes of lower-division clubs

Dan Malesela has taken charge of Baroka FC and earned a point in his first game with the club.

The match against Upington City was Baroka’s fourth draw of the season, as they have yet to win any of their first six games.

The seasoned campaigner has had stints at Chippa United, TS Galaxy, and Royal AM. His new employer, Khurishi Mphahlele, has been full of praise for the new recruit, comparing him to South African icons.

GOAL reported on the lavish praise Mphahlele heaped on Malesela:

"He is in the top three coaches. If we take out the likes of Pitso Mosimane and Rhulani Mokwena he should be top of that league.

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"So he is the best in terms of knowing football. The only difference between them and Dan is that Dan plays beautiful football.

"So when it comes to beautiful football he is number one. That one I can vouch for him, there is no coach who plays beautiful football more than Dan Malesela, no!"

Despite the relatively positive result, Malesela has already begun identifying issues that need resolving. One such issue is Baroka's soft core, as FarPost quoted Malesela as saying:

"We need to have a bit of professionalism in terms of aggression because these boys come to our home ground and dictate how we must play."

Baroka’s immediate challenge is a trip to fellow basement dwellers Venda FC before they host Black Leopards. Malesela will close out October by returning to his former club, Marumo Gallants.

Malesela left Gallants under dark cloud

Sports Brief reported at the time of Malesela's departure from Gallants that he did so under what he believed were suspicious circumstances.

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The 56-year-old said that he was accused within the club of match-fixing, which was used as a pretext not to renew his contract.

Malesela guided Gallants to a 10th-place finish in the DStv Premiership, while also missing out on the Nedbank Cup trophy after losing to Mamelodi Sundowns.