Baroka turn to former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Gift Motupa in promotion bid

Baroka FC have appointed former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Gift Motupa as head coach as the Limpopo club attempt to return to South Africa’s professional ranks.

Motupa will lead a coaching team made up of former Baroka players, with Veli Mothwa returning as full-time goalkeeper coach and Olaleng Shaku taking up the role of assistant coach.

Club chairman Khurishi Mphahlele confirmed the appointments and said all three members of the new technical team had developed their football at Baroka.

“Veli Mothwa is now our goalkeeper coach on a full-time basis, while Motupa is the coach and Shaku is his assistant. All three of them were schooled here about football,” Mphahlele told KickOff.

Baroka, formerly a PSL club, are seeking to rebuild and secure a route back into the professional game. Their immediate target is promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship, which would provide a pathway towards a return to the elite division.

The coaching changes come after supporters on social media called for the club to bring back Kgoloko Thobejane. Fans argued that the former coach’s experience could help Bakgakga return to the top.

Mphahlele, however, dismissed the prospect of a Thobejane return and said the club had decided to give its current generation an opportunity.

“The times of Kgoloko Thobejane have long passed. They had their chance. We give opportunities to the people now,” he said.

Motupa first attracted widespread attention during Baroka’s memorable Nedbank Cup run in 2011, when the club gained a reputation for defeating more established opposition.

His performances led to interest from some of the country’s biggest clubs, and he later joined Mamelodi Sundowns. During his time with the club, Motupa won three successive league titles.

He also collected the Nedbank Cup and the African Football League title, adding significant domestic and continental honours to his playing career.

At international level, Motupa represented South Africa and made 12 appearances for Bafana Bafana, scoring five goals.

He also played for Orlando Pirates before taking charge of Baroka’s attempt to climb back into the professional divisions.

Baroka’s new coaching structure brings together three people with previous links to the club, as they look to use that familiarity to begin their latest promotion campaign.