Zinnbauer Breaks Silence PSL Return Rumours

Former Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer has revealed he came close to returning to South Africa after receiving two offers, but admitted Raja CA were a lot quicker than the PSL teams.

Zinnbauer, 53, was appointed as new Raja coach earlier in June and went unbeaten in his first four games, winning two. He was recently joined by Fadlu Davids as his assistant coach after his Maritzburg United exit.

But if the Raja offer hadn’t come at the last minute, Zinnbauer might have ended up in South Africa again. He told iDiski Times in a recent interview in edition 109 that he had two offers from Mzansi, but the local club’s took too long.

“I did negotiate with two clubs in South Africa, but they needed too long,” he told iDiski Times.

“It was a bit of a back-and-forth and they needed time to think, otherwise I’d have probably agreed to a return to South Africa, but it just took too long.

“When this Raja offer came, I obviously had to make a call. But the president was so keen, he said ‘take the plane tomorrow’ and that showed me they really, really want me.

“I had six official offers, I must admit it was the first time like this for me, everything came at the same time and obviously I can only pick one club. In the end my feeling took me to Morocco and I’m happy with this choice.”

Zinnbauer had been closely linked with Richards Bay, but he didn’t want to reveal the names of the clubs he was talking to because he doesn’t want to influence their search for a new candidate.

“I don’t want to affect any club’s negotiations with other potential candidates. I don’t want to name any clubs, I hope you understand,” he added.

“The clubs that wanted me, but didn’t get me now have to look for another option, and I don’t want to cloud that process. The two clubs from South Africa were really keen, but in the end of the day they took a little bit too long.

“My first contacts with South Africa came weeks ago, but this Raja offer came so quick and admittedly quite aggressive, they really showed they only wanted me.

“I had offers from Russia, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus and I looked at Turkey. In Germany, there were some interested clubs, but I don’t want to disturb those clubs, hence I won’t reveal any names.”

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You can read the full interview with Zinnbauer, who talks about why he joined Raja, his ambitions and that 4-0 defeat with Pirates against Raja, in edition 109 of iDiski Times on our website.