Latest: Dan Malesela’s Marumo Gallants future hangs in the balance

It’s understood the two parties are now expected to part ways as Duncan Lechesa and Sundra Govender took charge of the session.  

Malesela was placed on “special leave” by the club earlier this month and did not travel with the team for their game away to Orlando Pirates, which they lost 8-1 on Christmas Eve at Orlando Stadium.

Govender confirmed after that heavy defeat that he and Lechesa were co-coaches, but did not want to be dragged into discussing working with Malesela.

The public broadcaster has been informed that Malesela is not expected back in the dugout on Saturday afternoon at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, leaving two men who were meant to be his assistants to take charge.

Malesela was appointed Bahlabane Ba Ntwa coach in July after buying the topflight status of Moroka Swallows, replacing Dylan Kerr even before the 2024/25 season could get underway.

READ: Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa relieved to end scoring drought

But his special leave came after nine games, coinciding with Govender finally accepting a role at Gallants following an attempt to bring him on board around the same time Malesela was hired

“In pre-season I wasn’t with the club. We were communicating and I was the head coach of Casric Stars – so I made it clear to the management of Marumo that I had taken on the Casric project. But as time went on things changed, and now this is where I feel I should be,” Govender said this week.

He also spoke about his approach as they prepare for Sekhukhune on Saturday in an effort to bounce back from the heavy defeat away to Pirates.

“The one thing you don’t want to do too quick is change things. The only thing we worked on was getting forward quicker. But in football there will always be an inquest into every [bad] result – there will always be speculation,” explained Govender.