Chippa United match PSL record for coaches after sixth appointment of the season

Chippa United’s dismissal of Vusumuzi Vilakazi last week and the subsequent debut of Nkosohlanga Dikeni have pushed the Eastern Cape club into familiar but unwanted territory — a sixth coaching change in a single season.

Dikeni took charge for the first time in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against TS Galaxy, becoming the sixth man to lead the side this campaign after Sinethemba Badela, Musa Nyatama, Morgan Mamilla, Luc Eymael and Vilakazi.

The tally matches a Premier Soccer League record for most coaches used in one season, first set by Manning Rangers in 2000-01 and later equalled by several clubs including Zulu Royals, Santos, Black Leopards and Marumo Gallants.

Manning Rangers were the first PSL champions in 1998 but endured a turbulent 2000-01 campaign in which six different coaches were employed, leaving them fighting relegation despite their early success in the league’s history.

Zulu Royals also hit the six-coach mark in the 2003-04 season when they finished bottom of the table, while both Manning Rangers and Santos repeated the pattern in 2004-05. Black Leopards followed suit in the Covid-affected 2019-20 season, using six different coaching setups on their way to a second-from-bottom finish before surviving in the relegation playoffs.

Chippa United, however, have become the most frequent offenders in this regard under chairman Siviwe Mpengesi, whose tenure has often been marked by rapid managerial turnover.

Since their debut PSL season in 2012-13 — when they were relegated — the club has repeatedly cycled through coaching staff, including six appointments in that campaign alone. Similar patterns followed in 2020-21 and 2022-23, reinforcing their reputation for instability on the touchline.

The club’s latest milestone once again highlights a broader trend of short-term coaching spells in South African football, where pressure for immediate results continues to drive frequent managerial changes across several clubs.