South African side, Black Leopards have appointed Ghanaian coach Maxwell Konadu on a three-year deal as they bid to gain promotion back to the DStv Premiership.
The 51-year-old, who joins from Nsoatreman FC in his native Ghana, has been tasked with achieving the Premier Soccer League outfit’s primary objective of returning to the top flight.
Leopards were relegated from the top division in 2020/21 and will be looking to bounce back immediately under Konadu’s guidance. The former Ghana international and coach has an impressive CV, having taken charge of Ghana’s U20 and U23 teams, as well as serving as Assistant Coach of the Black Stars between 2021-2022.
Konadu replaces Spanish-born coach Alejandro Dorado, who was in charge of the team last season. Leopards chairman Tshifhiwa Thidiela revealed that the Ghanaian coach has already been given a mandate to achieve promotion, and will be supported by a team of experienced staff members.
“Ja, it’s true we can confirm that we’ve reached an agreement with one Maxwell Konado,” Thidiela told reporters.
“He’s a Ghana national. I think he was also playing for the Ghanaian national team.
“He was coaching currently in Ghana Premier League. He just recently completed the Ghana FA Cup there. MTN FA Cup. He won it.
“The team he was with finish fourth. He’s 51 years old, and he’ll be here for, to reach an agreement for him to be here for three seasons.”
“We are confident that he will be able to do well. And it’s unfortunate or fortunate, the league that we’re playing in, that we only playing for one thing, one thing only which is for promotion.
“So that’s what the mandate is going to be, and that’s what we are all gunning for”
“I think if you look at his CV it speaks volume. Obviously because we want to achieve, we want to then get the best that we possibly can that can fit properly.
“Not only looking at… You know sometimes we look at just qualifications, but you know you need to have an overall or better eyeview so that you see if this person can fit in the Black Leopards puzzle, and if this man can be able to fit perfectly for us to achieve our objectives.”
Konadu will be assisted by Solly Luvhengo, Thendayo, and Ndlovu, while the physio and analyst positions are still to be filled. He will be given the freedom to bring two staff members of his choice along with him to the club.
The appointment of Konadu is seen as a coup for Black Leopards, who will be looking to make an immediate impact in their quest for promotion back to the top division.
