Kanalelo headed to Marumo Gallants

Former Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronnie Kanalelo is headed to South African club Marumo Gallants.

The 55-year-old Namibian led champions African Stars to the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League qualifiers, where they will face Orlando Pirates.

Stars beat Gabonese giants Mangasport on the away-goals rule after a 3-3 aggregate score, having beaten them 2-0 in Tshwane this weekend to overturn their 3-1 first-leg defeat.

Kanalelo signed a two-year contract with African Stars in July, returning to the club for a second spell after previously guiding them to the 2023/24 Debmarine Namibia Premiership title and the PstBet Namibia Football Association (NFA) Cup.

His return followed a stint at FC Ongos, where he led the team to a fourth-place finish in the 2025/26 season.

With previous experience as assistant coach of the Brave Warriors national team and time in the Premier Soccer League as a goalkeeper coach under Ernst Middendorp, Kanalelo has intimate experience of African and South African football.

Reports from South Africa indicate that Marumo Gallants are interested in appointing the Namibian tactician as their head coach after the departure of Phuti Mohafe.

Gallants announced on 9 September that they had parted ways with Mohafe and assistant coach Musa Bilankulu, with second assistant coach Trevor Mathiane taking interim charge.

According to iDiski Times, Gallants have reportedly lured Kanalelo back to the PSL, with the coach allegedly already conducting his first training session with the team.

However, Kanalelo has not commented on the reports, leaving his immediate future uncertain as African Stars prepare for their second round CAF Champions League encounter with Orlando Pirates.

During his playing days, Kanalelo spent eight years at Masandawana before retiring in 2005. He won three league titles with Sundowns and featured in a CAF Champions League final.

He later began his coaching career in Namibia and worked in South Africa as a goalkeeper coach at Maritzburg United and Bloemfontein Celtic. As assistant coach of the Brave Warriors, Kanalelo was part of the technical team that helped Namibia win the 2015 COSAFA Cup. He has also worked at three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

-lmupetami@nepc.com.na

Caption: Silent… Former Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper and African Stars head coach Ronnie Kanalelo.

Photo: Contributed

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