Maqonda Ndlovu
Former Orlando Pirates and Brave Warriors’ coach Nicholas Woody Jacobs sensationally quit Orlando Pirates on Friday, and immediately returned to Botswana Premier League newcomers Matebele FC to replace Zimbabwean coach Elias Chinyemba, who had taken over the reins on an interim basis.
Jacobs quit Matebele FC on 10 January 2024, having spent six months with the Botswana rookies. He guided them to sixth position on the log before the festive season break after he was “promised the Brave Gladiators coaching post”.
The team had won five of the 12 games they had played, but suffered three losses and three draws. Matebele was among the top-scoring teams in the league after finding the back of the net 19 times, but also conceded 19 goals.
Jacobs then joined the struggling Orlando Pirates, who were anchoring the Debmarine Premiership with eight points from 15 matches, with only two wins, two draws and 11 losses.
He guided them to two back-to-back victories, which lifted them off the bottom of the log.
Jacobs confirmed to this publication that he was indeed back in Botswana, saying he had consulted with his family, and they agreed with his decision to return to Matebele FC.
“It wasn’t what I planned initially, but when Matebele called last Wednesday, I was astonished that they wanted me back, despite how I left them in early January. The first thing I did yesterday (Saturday) when I arrived was to apologise to the Matebele family for what I had done to them. I am humbled by their forgiving nature, and the affection they still have for me. This was one of the reasons that was pivotal for me,” Jacobs said.
He added that he was proud of his brief stint at Pirates, as he had ‘left them in a good space’ with a squad mixed with youth and experience which can withstand the test of time. Jacobs said he holds no grudges, and hopes everyone understands that his time in Namibian club football is up, and that the taste of professional football was too good to resist. “I also have no regrets because my return to Namibia just made a few things clearer: I am destined for football outside the Namibian comfort zone. I leave behind young football talents, male and female, who can take our football forward. I took a decision, and for the first time, I took it for myself and myself alone. Lastly, I believe Namibia has a good chance of qualifying for the World Cup, but we need to fix the Independence Stadium so that we can rely on the Namibian fans, especially after the good showing at the recent African Nations Cup”, he noted. He further wished Pirates and Namibian football all the best, and urged everyone to unite in honour of late president Hage Geingob. Jacobs could not be drawn into commenting on social media rumours, which suggested that the temperamental gaffer was disappointed with the new Namibia Football Association leadership, who had promised him the Brave Gladiators’ job, but didn’t formalise his appointment.
Efforts to get comment from Pirates’ chairman Charles ‘Disco’ Naruseb proved fruitless, as he did not answer his phone nor respond to questions sent to him by New Era Sport. Meanwhile, Jacobs’ return to the Matebele dugout on Sunday saw the side play out a goalless draw away to Masitaoka, having lost two successive matches beforehand.