Young Warriors coach Simon Marange has officially joined Upington City FC as assistant coach, just a week after leaving Orlando Pirates. The Zimbabwean tactician, 34, will work under newly appointed head coach Abraham Mongoya at the Motsepe Foundation Championship side.
Marange had been linked with a number of Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams following his departure from Pirates, where he spent seven successful years, most notably winning the Future Champions Trophy with the U18 squad in 2018.
However, Marange made it clear that he wasn’t ready for a return to Zimbabwe. Speaking earlier this week, he told NewZimbabwe.com that while he had been approached by PSL clubs including Manica Diamonds and Scottland, he was focused on continuing his coaching career in South Africa.
“I have had contact with a few chairmen from the clubs in Zimbabwe in the PSL. We have talked a little bit; they have some very exciting projects that are happening in the country. However, I will not be coming to Zimbabwe at this moment, but it’s always open,” he said.
He admitted that coaching in Zimbabwe has always been a long-term goal, but the timing, he says, isn’t quite right.
“I’ve always wanted to coach in the Zimbabwe Premier League. I think it’s something that I’ve always set as a target for myself, but just not at this particular moment, as I will be staying in South Africa,” he added.
Marange recently led the national U23 team, the Young Warriors, during the 2025 COSAFA Cup in South Africa. While the team showed promise, they were eliminated in the group stage despite a solid 3-1 win over Mozambique in their final match.
That performance was the Young Warriors’ most convincing outing of the tournament, not only earning their first win but also ending a frustrating goal drought. Unfortunately, the victory wasn’t enough to send them through, as they were edged out by South Africa on goal difference. Both teams finished with four points, but South Africa’s better goal tally secured top spot in the group.
Thandowenkosi Ngwenya was the standout performer in that final game, scoring a brace to give Zimbabwe a 2-1 lead at halftime, his goals proving to be a bright spot in an otherwise short-lived campaign.
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The post Simon Marange Lands New Job at South African Club After Orlando Pirates Exit appeared first on iHarare News.
