No head coach for Pumas ... just yet
The Nelspruit-based Pumas have retained the bulk of their coaching squad, without appointing a new head coach.
The top spot in the coaching became vacant earlier this month when head coach Jimmy Stonehouse resigned from his position to join Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus.
On Thursday the board of directors of the Mpumalanga Rugby (Pty) Ltd revealed they have decided to leave the coaching team intact for the duration of the 2015 Vodacom Cup.
"All of them where instrumental in the team's success over the last three years," Pieter Burger, Managing Director of the Mpumalanga Rugby said, adding: "Why change a winning combination for the sake of change?
"We believe in their skill and confidence to continue the hard work that has been put into the team up to date.
"Therefore the Jimmy Stonehouse legacy will continue and be built upon."
The coaching panel consists of MJ Mentz (backline coach), Corné Steenkamp (conditioning and forward coach), Marius van Rensburg (team manager), Luzahn Louw (physiologist), Kobus Hugo (team doctor) and Harry Wiltshire (biokineticist).
Burger continued saying that no official head coach will be appointed as yet, but that MJ Mentz will fulfil the role as the central communications organiser of the coaching team for time being.
The board has been flooded with curricula vitae from all over the country, but like any other managerial appointment in a company, the correct procedures will be followed and each candidate will be evaluated accordingly.
"This coaching team has done an amazing job the last couple of years and we can't see why they shouldn't be given a chance to prove themselves yet again.
"It's a young, motivated team, with the backing and respect of both the players and management and we look forward to the season ahead," Burger concluded.
On February 14 the Pumas will travel to Pretoria where they'll play the Blue Bulls in their first of two warm-up matches.
The weekend thereafter, they be playing the Leopards in Potchefstroom.
The official Vodacom Cup series kicks off on Friday, March 6, when the Pumas take on the Griffons in a home encounter.
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