Motsepe Foundation Championship side Upington City FC has roped in former Orlando Pirates coach Simon Marange as their new assistant coach.
‘Bafana Ba Gucci’ recently returned from the off-season break, and they are preparing for the 2025/26 campaign. Upington City are gearing up to push for automatic promotion to the Betway Premiership in the upcoming season.
The Northern Cape-based side had a disappointing run in the previous campaign after finishing in the bottom half of the league table.
Upington City finished 12th on the NFD log standings with 35 points in 30 matches after winning eight games, drawing 11, and losing 11 times. And with the club looking to have an improved showing in the new season, they appointed Abram Mongoya as their head coach.
Mongoya joined Upington from Motsepe Foundation rivals Kruger United after coming close to securing the PSL promotion playoffs spot.
The South African-born coach is replacing Brandon Truter, who left the club at the end of last season. Truter is already linked with a technical director role at Kruger United.
UPINGTON CITY FC APPOINT EX-PIRATES COACH SIMON MARANGE
After appointing Mongoya, Upington City have welcomed Simon Marange, who previously served as the Pirates’ development coach, as their new assistant coach. Marange recently parted ways with the Soweto giants, ending his spell with the club since joining them in 2018.
The Zimbabwean coach proved his coaching pedigree at Pirates after winning the Under-17 Future Champions title in 2019. In addition, Marange was given the nod to coach the Zimbabwe National Team in the recently concluded 2025 COSAFA Cup.
Having gained sufficient experience in his coaching career, Simon Marange will be looking to play a crucial role in Upington’s push for promotion to the top-flight.
Meanwhile, Upington have been in the second division for two seasons. The club gained promotion from the ABC Motsepe League at the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
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