SOUTH Africa’s top-flight league side, SuperSport United, has parted ways with Head Coach Kaitano Tembo.
In a statement released by the club yesterday, the termination of Tembo’s contract was by mutual consent, and his former Assistant Andre Arendse takes over as Head Coach for the remainder of the season.
The former Dynamos and Zimbabwe defender has been with the club for 23 years, both as a player and later as a coach.
Before he took over as Head Coach in 2018, Tembo had worked as Assistant Coach under Gavin Hunt, Erick Tinkler and Stuart Baxter.
Tembo is credited with promoting young players from the academy to the first team.
In 2019 he reached his second MTN8 Cup Final and beat Highlands Park to win his maiden trophy as a coach.
Kaitano leaves the Pretoria based side in the eighth position. The going has been tough for the former centre back after 24 matches this term. He won eight, drew seven and lost nine.
With 31 points, SuperSport are 26 points adrift of Pretoria rivals Sundowns at the top of the log.
In his four years in charge, Tembo consistently failed to challenge the Premier League Championship.
Friday’s 3-2 defeat to Tshakuma FC, a Championship side having led 2-0 at halftime, proved to be the final straw that got the 51-year-old fired.
SuperSport Chief Executive Officer Stan Matthews, in a club statement, thanked Tembo for his service and loyalty to the club.
“Kaitano is the epitome of the dedicated club man. Very few players transition into coaching at the club where they played. We want to thank Kaitano for the many years he served SuperSport United in many capacities,” he said.
“It is never easy to parting ways, but as a true servant, Kaitano has always placed the team interests of the club above that of individuals,” said Matthews.
