Former Pirates coach joins new club in Russia

Former Orlando Pirates co-coach Fadlu Davids has landed a lucrative coaching gig with a Russian top division side.

Davids reunites with ex-Pirates coach Josef Josef Zinnbauer, who was named head coach of Lokomotiv Moscow not so long ago.

The duo worked together at the Soweto giants with Davids acting as one of the assistant coaches to Zinnbauer.

Davids joins Lokomotiv Moscow as an assistant coach.

WHAT DAVIDS SAID ON HIS NEW APPOINTEMENT

“It’s a major honour being a  part of such a huge institution of Russian football,” said Davids.

“Lokomotiv Moscow is well known amongst South African fans as it was a club of the late Jacob Lekgetho many years ago.

“I’m here to be part of the future success of the club, and it all starts today,” he concluded.

Davids was the Pirates co-coach and Mandla Ncikazi last season before he was relieved of his duties after an underwhelming season that saw the team miss out on a CAF Champions League spot.

The ex-Maritzburg United mentor was recently linked with the vacant job at Swallows to replace Dylan Kerr, who was fired after the club’s poor start to the new campaign, but the deal did not materialise.

During the 2021/22 season under the guidance of Davids and Ncikazi, Pirates finished 6th on the DStv Premiership table after winning 10 games, drawing 14 while losing six times.

A record not so impressive for the team of Pirates calibre and perhaps what prompted the club to axe Davids.

The Buccaneers narrowly missed the opportunity of lifting the CAF Confederation Cup trophy when they lost in the final against Moroccan side RC Berkane on penalties.

The 41-year-old tactician was roped in by Pirates in 2019 as an assistant coach and spent the last three seasons at the club.

Davids gained prominence when he helped The Team of Choice to reach the Nedbank Cup final in 2018, which they lost to the now defunct Free State Stars.

With Moscow languishing at the bottom half of the Russian Premier League, Davids will be looking to help the team to start collecting points and climb up the table.