Motsepe Foundation Championship side Pretoria Callies is close to appointing Italian coach Fabio Lopez ahead of the upcoming season.

The 51-year-old, set to make his African coaching debut, brings a wealth of experience from roles at Roma Youth, Atalanta (as a scout), and Fiorentina (also as a scout). He has previously managed the Bangladesh national team and Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli’s under-23 side.

While he boasts exposure of top-tier clubs, Lopez’s coaching career has been relatively inactive since his last role at Dong A Thanh Hoa FC in 2020.

At Callies, Lopez is expected to replace Bushy Moloi, who joined the club in November last year. The change comes after Callies narrowly escaped relegation last season, finishing 14th in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, just three points above relegated La Masia.

Sportswire understands that Lopez has already arrived in the country and is overseeing pre-season preparations. His appointment is imminent.

Callies will kick off the 2024/25 season with a visit to newcomers Lerumo United at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday, 24 August.