Roger de Sa returns to Cape Town Spurs as technical director

Roger de Sa has been appointed technical director of Cape Town Spurs, returning to the club after a year away to take up an international coaching role with Carlos Queiroz.

The former Orlando Pirates, Ajax Cape Town and Bidvest Wits coach will oversee a wide-ranging restructuring programme at Spurs, who are targeting promotion from the ABC Motsepe League and a return to professional football.

De Sa’s appointment was originally expected a year ago, but his move was delayed after he became involved with Queiroz at the Oman and Ghana national teams, with the approval of the ABC Motsepe League club.

The former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper has now returned to Ikamva, Cape Town Spurs’ home, where he will initially concentrate on the senior team and the club’s reserve side.

“After a year-long detour to the FIFA World Cup with Ghana, Roger de Sa has finally returned to Ikamva to take up the role of Technical Director at Cape Town Spurs, a homecoming that completes the most ambitious restructuring in the club’s proud history,” the club stated.

De Sa’s first responsibility will be to oversee the team competing in the ABC Motsepe League, as well as the reserve side playing in the HollywoodBets League.

The club said the priority was to establish stability at the top of its football structure before turning greater attention to its younger teams and soccer schools.

“De Sa’s initial focus will be on overseeing the ABC Motsepe League team and the club’s reserve side competing in the HollywoodBets League, ensuring stability at the very top of the club’s football pyramid. Once this senior and reserve structure is solidified, he will gradually shift his attention to overseeing the soccer schools teams further down the development pipeline.

“The club’s immediate sporting mission remains unequivocal: the fight for promotion from the ABC Motsepe League and a return to professional football.”

The restructuring has also led to the appointment of Duncan Crowie as head coach of the HollywoodBets League team. Crowie will additionally oversee Cape Town Spurs’ under-16 and under-18 age groups.

Anees Abaas has been given responsibility for the foundation phase. He will lead that section of the club and take charge of the under-12 and under-14 teams.

The appointments form part of an effort to create a more connected pathway from the senior side through the reserve team and into the youth system.

Cape Town Spurs chief executive Alexi Efstathiou welcomed the completed changes and said De Sa’s return represented the final part of the club’s plan.

“Every piece of the puzzle is now in place. Spurs are back, and we are here to stay!”

De Sa previously coached Orlando Pirates, Ajax Cape Town and Bidvest Wits, while also representing Bafana Bafana as a goalkeeper. His return gives Cape Town Spurs an experienced figure to lead the sporting direction of a club seeking to rebuild its football structure and regain professional status.