Allan Freese was on Thursday named as the new coach of bottom-placed Magesi, just more than 24 hours before the club hosts Lamontville Golden Arrows in the Betway Premiership on Friday.
Freese returns to the helm of a top-flight club for the first time since taking charge at AmaZulu for a single game in the 2020-21 season. At 69 years old, he will be the oldest coach in the league.
Freese made his name as a double-cup winner at Platinum Stars and also coached briefly at Highlands Park. He and his brothers were professional players at Eldorado Park-based club Leicester City in the former National Professional Soccer League.
Meet the new boss!😎Coach Allan Freese is here to lead the charge💪
— Magesi Football Club (@Magesi_FC) February 11, 2026
#magesifc #Allanfreesetomagesi#betwayPrem #dikwenatsameetse pic.twitter.com/0SarYEAk2n
Freese replaces John Maduka, who had been mysteriously sidelined at the club over the last few weeks without any official explanation. Abram Nteo has been in charge of their last two matches, a loss at high-flying Orlando Pirates and a Nedbank Cup elimination at the hands of second-tier Upington City last weekend.
In a poorly worded statement on Thursday, the club finally said:
“This is to inform the public that Magesi Football Club has on this day, 11 February 2026, terminated the coaching contract of John Maduka with immediate effect by mutual consent.
“The club has also concluded contractual engagements with coach Allan Freese, who will resume (sic) coaching responsibilities at Magesi FC with immediate effect.
“This statement by the club brings weeks of uncertainty on the future of Coach John Maduka,” it added without finishing the sentence.