Beganovic sets conditions for potential return to Betway Premiership

Adnan Beganovic says he would consider returning to the Premier Soccer League, but only if a club offers a clear, ambitious project and does not change its expectations midway through his tenure.

The former TS Galaxy coach has twice been close to securing a return to the Betway Premiership. He held talks with Sekhukhune United before they appointed Cedric Kaze, and later negotiated with Richards Bay.

Both discussions reportedly reached advanced stages before breaking down. Richards Bay, known as the Natal Rich Boys, appointed Bulgarian coach Dimitar Pantev earlier this month.

“I don’t want to take a job for the sake of returning to the PSL,” Beganovic told SABC Sport this week.

“I know what I want from my next project – after everything I built at TS Galaxy, I want to be in an environment with a clear vision, ambition and the right structure to compete. I am still very ambitious, and I believe I have a lot more to achieve in the PSL.”

Beganovic’s time at TS Galaxy ended with five league matches remaining, when chairman Tim Sukazi dismissed him as a run of poor results threatened to pull the club into the relegation battle.

Assistant coach Bernard Parker took charge for the rest of the campaign, but Galaxy’s season ended in disappointment as they lost the Nedbank Cup final 2-1 to Durban City at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. Beganovic had left the club just two weeks before that match.

Despite the circumstances of his departure, the Bosnian coach believes his work in South African football is not complete.

“The PSL is still very attractive to me because I know the league and I know what it takes to work and compete here. South Africa has become a very important part of my coaching journey,” he said.

“I spent more than four years in the country, worked my way from assistant coach to head coach and experienced what it means to compete in the PSL. I also worked on developing young players and helped build a team with a clear identity. I believe I still have a lot to give to South African football, and I would like the opportunity to show that again.”

Asked why his proposed move to Richards Bay did not materialise, Beganovic said the breakdown was influenced by several issues rather than one specific obstacle.

“There have been different situations. Sometimes the financial side was not right, sometimes the project was not what I was looking for, and sometimes the timing simply wasn’t right. I’m not going to take a job just because I have an offer on the table,” he said.

“I have worked very hard to build my career, and I want my next decision to be an important step forward. For me, the project has to make sense from every angle.”