Ex-Simba coach nears Lyon switch
Former Simba SC Serbian coach Dragan Popadic.
What you need to know:
Popadic, who had fairy-tale spell at the Masimbazi Street giants, is in town for negotiation after the new Premier League outfit approached him. African Lyon owner Rahim Kangezi confirmed to The Citizen yesterday, saying if all goes well, the coach will sign a contract today.
Dar es Salaam. African Lyon are in talks with former Simba SC Serbian coach Dragan Popadic to take over the club’s head coach.
Popadic, who had fairy-tale spell at the Masimbazi Street giants, is in town for negotiation after the new Premier League outfit approached him. African Lyon owner Rahim Kangezi confirmed to The Citizen yesterday, saying if all goes well, the coach will sign a contract today.
“We are still negotiating terms with Popadic, but we believe that he will accept our offer and seal the deal by tomorrow (today),” he said.
“We have been working to strengthen the team, which we have managed to do so. However, we need a good coach to propel us to new height. Popadic has the caliber to change the club’s fortune next season.”
Popadic had his contract not extended by Ethiopian Coffee after the end of the season.
The Serbian’s one year deal expired at the end of the 2015/16 season and both parties have chosen to part ways amicably.
The 70-year-old who replaced Tilahun Magesha managed a second place finish behind Kidus Giorgis despite faltering in the first half of the Ethiopian Premier League.
He was the first foreign coach in the 41 years history of Coffee and his replacement could still be a foreigner from either Serbia or Netherlands.
