PRETORIA — South African football giants Orlando Pirates have confirmed the resignation of coach Vladimir Vermezovic (VV) in the wake of the club’s 2-1 loss to Maritzburg United on Tuesday, coming just days before they are due to meet Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs.
The Serbian coach handed in his resignation yesterday morning, which was accepted by Pirates boss Irvin Khoza.
It brings to an end a nine-month stay at the club that yielded the Nedbank Cup in May, but poor results in the league both at the tail-end of last season and in this campaign.
“We have accepted VV’s resignation. The stability of the team is always a pressing priority. Eric Tinkler will again assume the role of caretaker coach until the end of the 2014/2015 season,” Khoza said in a statement.
“I will sit down with VV in an exit interview to hear him out. I naturally wished that he stayed longer and had more success at Orlando Pirates.
“He has, however, added the Nedbank Cup and Carling Black Label Cup success at Orlando Pirates to his list of achievements. I wish him well into the future.” Vermezovic was pelted with missiles by angry Pirates fans after the Maritzburg defeat, and has also had to keep the team together through one of the darkest periods in the club’s history following the murder of goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa. Vermezovic was also in charge of Kaizer Chiefs for just shy of three years between 2009 and 2012, where he won the Telkom Knockout twice – SuperSport
