Dan Malesela returns to development football as Africa School of Excellence head of sport

Dan Malesela has returned to development football after being appointed Head of Sport at the Africa School of Excellence, where he will help identify and develop young talent.

The former Baroka FC coach’s appointment was announced by the Chippa Group, led by Siviwe ‘Chippa’ Mpengesi. Malesela previously coached at the institution when it was known as the SAFA/Transnet School of Excellence.

Speaking after the appointment was finalised on Monday, Malesela said his new role represented a return to a familiar environment, although the school now operates under a different name.

“We just finalised today [Monday]. I’m the Head of Sports, it’s the same School of Excellence I worked for before, but with a different name. It’s now called African School of Excellence,” Malesela told KickOff last night.

The former Chippa United coach explained that his move was not the result of a lengthy formal recruitment process. Instead, discussions with Mpengesi began around a group of players Malesela had identified.

“We were actually having discussions, me and Mr. Mpengesi, about some boys that I had discovered. Eventually, he remembered I was in the development for quite some time, and he said, ‘Yes, maybe you are the man to come and help here.'”

“That’s how the move came about,” shared the former Chippa United coach.

Malesela said he and Mpengesi did not spend a long time discussing the details of the position before reaching an agreement. His responsibilities will include overseeing the sporting operation while remaining closely involved in shaping the school’s football philosophy.

“So, I will be mostly overseeing things, but I will still be involved in trying to find philosophies on how the School will play. We need a unique style.

“We must produce special players,” he added.

The coach acknowledged that the institution may not be exactly as it was during his previous spell, but said the focus would remain on producing players capable of progressing from development football.

“The School may not be like before, but we will try to make it better. We must produce players. We can’t say we are in development but not produce players.”

His appointment marks a return to an area of the game in which Malesela has previously worked, with the coach now set to contribute to the search for raw talent and the development of a distinct playing identity at the African School of Excellence.

The move also brings him back into an organisation connected to Mpengesi, with whom he has previously worked through his association with Chippa United. Malesela’s immediate task will be to oversee the school’s sporting direction while helping establish the structures and approach needed to produce players.