Kanalelo set for immediate Marumo Gallants debut against Orlando Pirates

Marumo Gallants’ new head coach Ronnie ‘Magnet’ Kanalelo will take charge for the first time on Sunday when his side face Orlando Pirates at Royal Bafokeng.

The Namibian has replaced Phuti Mohafe after recently leading African Stars to the second qualifying round of the CAF Champions League.

African Stars will face Orlando Pirates in that round, with the winner advancing to the competition’s group stage.

Kanalelo’s first league fixture in his new role therefore comes against the team his former club is due to meet in continental competition. The match is scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

The 55-year-old will not need to apply for a work permit to take up the position in South Africa because he holds South African permanent residence.

Namibians born before the country gained independence on March 21, 1990 were eligible for South African permanent residency. That status allows Kanalelo and others in the same position to work in South Africa as non-foreigners while retaining their Namibian citizenship.

Kanalelo is also a former Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper, having been with the club from the 1997/98 season until the end of the 2004/05 campaign.

During his playing career, he competed for the goalkeeping position with John Tlale, Collen Makhanya, Paul Evans, Simon Gopane, Wendell Robinson, Andre Arendse and Brian Baloyi.

He won three league titles, the BOB Save Super Bowl and the Rothmans Cup during his time in the game.

After ending his playing career, Kanalelo moved into coaching and held goalkeeping roles at Bloemfontein Celtic and Maritzburg United.

He is known for maintaining a firm presence in the dressing room and is expected to set demanding standards for the Marumo Gallants squad.

Kanalelo is also understood to want to bring in members of his preferred technical team. Rudi Louw has been identified as the proposed fitness and conditioning coach.

Robert Nauseb and Willem Mwedihanga are also being considered for assistant coaching positions. Both are currently attached to UNAM FC, who were recently eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup.

The appointments would allow Kanalelo to begin reshaping the technical structure at Marumo Gallants immediately, with Orlando Pirates providing his first test in charge.