Royal AM have received huge boost after it was confirmed that coach John Maduka will be on the bench when they face Cape Town City in the Nedbank Cup last-32 at DHL Stadium on Sunday.
Maduka confirmed that he has received his work permit in time to be on the bench in that game, after missing the 2-1 win over struggling Golden Arrows in the league match over the weekend.
The former club coach was re-appointed on Thursday last week to return to the club he led to the third place finish last term and the semi-final of the Ke Yona Cup before leaving in June to take over at Maritzburg United.
But Maduka is back at the club, as things did not work out for him at Maritzburg, leaving them in November last year.
“Yes, I have received my work permit and I will be on the bench in that game against City,” said Maduka a press conference in Umhlanga on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Maduka also clarified that he is the club head coach, and he’s not sharing the responsibility with Abram Nteo, who was the head in the interim basis following the demotion of Khabo Zondo to the development.
“Yes, I’m the head coach of the club,” said Maduka in short.
When Maduka left during the off season, Nteo, Zondo and Dan Malesela were appointed as the co-coaches to replace him, but Malesela left in September to take over at Marumo Gallants, where he was recently placed on special leave.
Zondo was also removed from the technical area in January after a loss to same City in the league match when the season resumed post the FIFA World Cup.
Nteo has since been running things solo, but results have been unsatisfactory to bring the smile to club boss Shauwn Mkhize – until last weekend when they beat Golden Arrows to stop their downward trend.
