Dimitar Pantev appointed Tonota FC head coach after Richards Bay exit

Former Richards Bay coach Dimitar Pantev has secured a return to Botswana after being appointed head coach of Botswana Premier League club Tonota FC.

The Bulgarian has signed a 20-month contract with Tonota, who confirmed the move in a statement.

“Tonota FC is pleased to announce the appointment of Dimitar N. Pantev as the club’s new head coach on a one-year, eight-month contract,” the club said.

The appointment comes shortly after Pantev’s brief spell in charge of Richards Bay came to an end. The 50-year-old confirmed exclusively to Soccer Laduma in the early hours of Saturday morning that he had been relieved of his duties by the KwaZulu-Natal club.

Pantev spent only 46 days with Richards Bay, overseeing three matches and suffering defeat in each of them.

He will now begin a new chapter with Tonota FC, returning to a country where he has previously managed two clubs: Orapa United and Gaborone United.

Tonota said Pantev’s arrival formed part of the club’s plans to improve its technical direction, develop greater consistency and pursue its ambitions in Botswana football.

“The appointment marks a new chapter for Sepondo Se A Debola as the club looks to strengthen its technical direction, build consistency, and pursue its ambitions in Botswana football. We welcome Coach Pantev to Tonota FC and look forward to the work ahead as we begin this new chapter together,” Tonota said.