FC Platinum Set To Appoint Pieter De Jongh As New Head Coach

Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League champions FC Platinum are set to appoint Hendrik Pieter de Jongh after he informed Highlanders that he wants to leave.

The 48-year-Dutchman is set to replace Lizwe Swese who is unwanted as coach following a series of unconvincing results.

Highlanders offered De Jongh, 48, a new contract which would have made him one of the best-paid coaches in the Castle Lager sponsored league, but felt he could not reject a position at a side which is playing at African Champions League group stages.

De Jongh was given permission to talk to FC Platinum after telling Highlander late on Saturday that he wanted to leave.

The continuing financial uncertainty at Highlanders is thought to have been one of the key factors behind his decision.

Highlanders finished sixth in the recently concluded league after losing most of their players in the mid-season transfer window. More players are expected to leave this January.

The experienced De Jongh, who ventured into coaching in Africa in 2004 with Kenyan Premier League side AFC Leopards, was expected to sign a pre-contract with Platinum on Monday evening.

“The plan has been to have De Jongh as head coach and Swese as technical director. Swese will be helping De Jongh settle in the team, he will take over as the boss in the next few days,” the source disclosed.

De Jongh boasts of over 15 years of coaching experience in Africa. He has handled FC Cape Town in South Africa, Rwanda national team as technical director and Eswatinin as national team head coach before his move to Highlanders.

He holds UEFA A, B and C coaching badges, a youth trainer coaching diploma and a FIFA technical director certificate all licensed by KNVD (Royal Dutch Football Association).