Chippa United interim coach Kurt Lentjies will return to the field and play in their final match against TS Galaxy on Saturday.
The Chilli Boys have survived the relegation fight after a difficult season, after Saturday’s goalless draw against relegation strugglers, Swallows FC confirmed their safety from relegation.
Ahead of last game of the season against TS Galaxy, Lentjies confirmed that he will participate for 27 minutes as a player and then come back to coach for the rest of the game, with Morgan Mammila, who’s the assistant coach, expected to take charge of the team during those 27 minutes.
“As the chairman promised me after I played my last game against Maritzburg United, I will definitely walk onto the field to play 27 minutes this last game for my farewell. I will play for 27 minutes and coach the rest, that’s our agreement with the chairman,” Lentjies told SowetanLIVE..
The 37-year-old took over at the end of last year after Gavin Hunt was released from his duties.
“I got the opportunity halfway through the season as a player going into the coaching industry,” he explained.
“This job just came my way. God blessed me with the opportunity to coach, I had to decide whether I hang up the boots to coach these guys, which I’m enjoying very much.
“I’m happy, the most important thing is we secured our status for next season so we can start building.”
The Eastern Cape side has managed one win in their last five games, while drawing four. They will be going into the TS Galaxy game without any pressure, while Galaxy will be targeting maximum points to confirm their own relegation survival.
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