Ex-Pirates goalkeeper coach joins Premiership outfit Southampton

English Premier League club Southampton have appointed former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper coach Andrew Sparkes as the man to take charge of their goalkeepers.

The 34-year-old Sparkes left the Buccaneers at the end of the last PSL season.

Southampton’s goalkeeper coach of last season, Dave Watson, has been promoted to first-team assistant coach by the club’s head coach Ralph Hasenhüttl.

Sparkes was subsequently appointed to replace Watson, as Southampton explained in a statement: “Watson’s new role means the club has appointed Andrew Sparkes as our new first-team goalkeeping coach.”

As for Pirates, they moved quickly to fill the void left by Sparkes by appointing Jyri Nieminen as their goalkeeper coach.

The Finn is the former San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper coach.

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