How Lopez fits into Pretoria Callies’ ambitious new direction
Pretoria Callies chairman Moses Malada has revealed how highly-rated Italian coach Fabio Lopez fits into their ambitious new direction.
Lopez penned a one-year deal to take charge of the Motsepe Foundation Championship side.
The Italian coach, Lopez, has been in the country for over a month, assessing the club’s squad ahead of the season.
Callies began their campaign with a 1-0 triumph against Leruma United, followed by a 1-0 loss to the University of Pretoria -AmaTuks. As it stands, they are positioned at 10th in the league table.
The Tshwane-based PSL side finished 14th in the second-tier league last season, just three points above the drop zone.
WHY PRETORIA CALLIES OPTED FOR FABIO LOPEZ
In making the appointment, Malada said they prioritised the identification and development of young players.
“He has extensive experience as a scout… Our approach aligns with his expertise in identifying and developing talent,” Malada told FARPost.
“We want to enhance our focus on nurturing potential… Lopez will support our coaches and improve their skills, ultimately making our football more attractive to fans.”
The UEFA Pro License holder, who previously worked for Serie A sides Fiorentina and Atalanta, will work closely with Bushy Moloi, who was in charge last season.
Callies recognises the importance of investing in coaches and sees Lopez as a key figure in this process.
Despite challenges, the club maintains its ambition to achieve success in the league and secure promotion.
“Coach Lopez is a ‘coach’s coach’. He’s a UEFA instructor and we believe he will train our coaches, like Bushy Moloi, which is crucial for the growth of local football.”
“We aim to build a competitive team for next season, capable of challenging for the league and promotion. While our initial 3-year plan faced setbacks, we’re committed to learning and improving,” he added.
The 51-year-old’s journey in football began in 1996 as a youth goalkeeper coach for AS Roma, progressing to the managerial role in 2001. He later assumed scouting positions at Atalanta and Fiorentina.
Lopez has also held various other roles, including technical director at Sabah FC in Malaysia and a brief tenure as head coach of the Bangladesh national team in 2015.
His most recent coaching job was at Dong-A Thanh Hoa FC in Vietnam from 2019 to 2020.
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