The coaches at the top of the list are Portuguese mentor Alexandre Santos and South African football great Pitso Mosimane.
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This development comes after extensive deliberations within the club, with both coaches emerging as contenders for the prestigious role, but that's still subject to availability, which means a coach could still arise from outside this list if Mosimane and Santos are both not available.
Siya sources close to Amakhosi, privy to the ongoing discussions, have indicated that the decision will hinge on two critical factors: the availability and affordability of the chosen candidate. Despite previous insider information, TS Galaxy head coach Sead Ramovic has apparently not been considered to compete with Mosimane and Santos, even though he was in the framework for potential talks.
"To tell you the truth, there are many meetings going on now at the club concerning the coaches. But the latest is that the likelihood of Pitso Mosimane and Alexandre Santos will be one of the coaches. I am telling you that the committee looking at who the coach could be has narrowed their net to these two. Here is the catch or the problem. Who will be available at the start of the seasons? Will Petro de Luanda release Santos or will Abha Club hold onto Pitso if he avoids relegation with them in Saudi Arabia? It will all boil done to availability and also affordability," said the Siya source.
"You know coach Pitso normally comes with his team and we understand Santos also has other technical team members he wants to come with. That's where the issue of affordability comes in. Which of the two will the club afford? But as it stands, the fight is between the two of them now," the source added.
Another key aspect in the selection process is the desire for a coach who commands respect across all levels of the club, according to a second Siya source.
"That's what they want. A coach who will command respect among the players, technical team and everyone at the club. And they feel if it comes to that then Pitso has that. But will he be available? Let's wait for what his club will say first. Yes, his contract ends at the end of the season. But what if they renew if he avoids relegation? Then Alexandre Santos remains the favourite in that case," the second source mentioned.
As far as the club's considerations are concerned, Ramovic, the source believes, is not ahead of these two coaches in the wanted list.
"To be honest with you Ramovic was not even mentioned in the last meeting. Maybe his agents or representatives are talking to someone and it looked as if he is one of the coaches but as far as we know it's Pitso and Santos who stand the chance right now. But as already noted, it will depend on affordability and availability as well on those two," concluded the source.
The view from these insiders underline that while the pursuit of Mosimane may be a difficult one even at this stage, Amakhosi management have not given up on getting their man yet, even with the reported challenges to bring him back to South Africa.
Chiefs' search for a new head coach is a closely watched saga, with the club's decision likely to have significant implications for its future direction and success. As the club weighs its options, the football community eagerly awaits the announcement of who will take the helm at one of South Africa's most storied football institutions.
Soccer Laduma reached out to Chiefs for comment on the matter, but no response was received by the time this story was published.
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