Marumo Gallants coach Phuti Mohafe absent from training as Dimitar Pantev emerges as possible successor

Marumo Gallants head coach Phuti Mohafe was absent from the club’s training session on Wednesday morning, with assistant coaches Trevor Mathiane and Sundra Govender taking charge as uncertainty grows around his position.

The team has recently been preparing at the Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports Ground in Pretoria, having previously held its sessions at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).

Second assistant coach Mathiane and recently appointed technical team member Govender led Wednesday’s training. First assistant coach Musa Bilankulu was also excused from the session, although he initially attended before leaving.

“The coach (Mohafe) was not with us today. Even Bilankulu came but left. Mathiane and Govender trained the team,” said a Marumo player, who preferred to remain anonymous since he’s not authorized to speak to the media.

Mathiane and Govender are currently expected to oversee the side when Marumo Gallants face AmaZulu at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday, 12 September. The fixture is a league clash.

Pantev linked with Gallants role

Soccer Laduma has also established through well-placed sources at the club that Bulgarian coach Dimitar Pantev has become the leading candidate to replace Mohafe.

Pantev was expected to arrive in South Africa on Tuesday, after talks between the coach and Marumo Gallants began recently. The discussions have fuelled speculation that Mohafe’s future may be under consideration, although no official announcement regarding a change in head coach has been made.

The Bulgarian has previously managed Tanzanian club Simba and Botswana side Gaborone United, among his former employers.

Soccer Laduma approached both Marumo Gallants and Mohafe for comment, but did not receive a response.

Marumo Gallants have in recent times based their training at the Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports Ground in Pretoria after initially working at TUT. The change in training venue has come as the club prepares for its meeting with AmaZulu, with Mathiane and Govender set to guide the team unless there is a further development.

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