Mere Resigns As Galaxy Assistant Coach, Set For Celtic Move

Vuyo Mere has resigned as the assistant coach of TS Galaxy, Sportswire has been informed.

Mere, who retired from playing at Galaxy at the end of last season, was appointed as the club’s assistant coach following the departure of Sead Ramovic in October.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns right-back initially took on co-coaching duties with Bernard Parker for the DStv Diski Challenge team. However, this changed once Ramovic left, and Mere was then promoted to assistant coach for the senior team alongside Adnan Beganovic.

Mere has since departed, and the club confirmed the matter was personal between him and the club, who did not stand in his way.

Sportswire has been informed that Mere is set to join Bloemfontein Celtic’s technical team. This move comes amidst reports that new management in Bloemfontein has purchased the status of SuperSport United. Sportswire has also learned that Celtic has been active behind the scenes, signing several players who will be unveiled once the current season concludes.

The alleged purchase of SuperSport’s status has reportedly been approved by the PSL, who are said to have understood SuperSport’s reasons for selling.

For Mere, the PSL’s longest-serving player with over 20 years of experience, going to Bloemfontein will be a homecoming, as he was born in the Free State province.

The 41-year-old began his career at Hellenic before moving to Sundowns, where he won two league titles and the SAA Supa 8. He then spent seven years with Platinum Stars, a side that famously won both the Carling Knockout and MTN8 in the 2013/14 season, beating Orlando Pirates in both finals under Allan Freese.

After a single season with Bidvest Wits, he joined Moroka Swallows, guiding them back to top-flight football with their promotion in the 2019/20 season under Brandon Truter. He then left the Dube Birds to join Galaxy in the 2021/22 season before retiring from playing at the end of last season.

Internationally, Mere represented Bafana Bafana nine times. He was part of the late Ted Dumitru’s side that embarrassingly lost all group stage matches and failed to score a goal at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

He also represented Bafana Bafana in the 2014 CHAN tournament, which also failed to progress beyond the group stages, a team famously described by former sports minister Fikile Mbalula as a “bunch of losers” under coach Gordon Igesund.