Thoka Set To Return At Baroka As New Coach

Sportswire has learned that Baroka is set to re-appoint Matsemela Thoka as the club’s new head coach.

This publication confirmed on Monday morning that Dan Malesela has been sacked following a poor start to the season in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

Although some reports have suggested that Malesela was merely suspended, Sportswire — which first broke the story — can confirm that the former Orlando Pirates captain has indeed been dismissed.

Malesela’s departure comes as Baroka sit second from bottom in the Motsepe Foundation Championship standings, having registered just one win in seven matches this season. During that run, the club suffered five defeats and managed one draw, prompting concern among the management and leading to a decision to act.

The final straw for Malesela, who was in his second stint with the club, was a 2-0 home defeat to the University of Pretoria this past weekend.

Thoka’s return to Baroka does not come as a surprise. He previously held several roles at the club, including assistant coach under both Wedson Nyirenda and Dylan Kerr.

He served as Nyirenda’s assistant when Baroka made history by becoming the first Limpopo-based team to win a major domestic trophy — the 2018/19 Telkom Knockout — defeating Orlando Pirates on penalties at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Thoka played a crucial role that season, notably leading the team from the bench during their 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Mamelodi Sundowns, as Nyirenda had returned home to Zambia following a family bereavement.

He later managed the senior team between November 2020 and November 2021, even guiding Baroka to the top of the table in the early stages of the campaign.

After his removal from the first team, Thoka took charge of Baroka’s DStv Diski Challenge side from November 2021 until June 2022.

Unfortunately, Baroka were relegated at the end of the 2021/22 season, becoming only the second team in the PSL era to be demoted from the top flight without winning a single away match all season.

Following the club’s relegation, Thoka went on to work with the reserve teams of both Marumo Gallants and Moroka Swallows. But now he is making his return to Baroka after three years away.