Eymael: I am not the nicest girl
JOHANNESBURG: Controversial Free State Stars coach Luc Eymael has vowed to continue speaking in his frank manner that touches a lot of nerves and has seen the Belgian make a lot of enemies in South Africa in a short space of time.
Eymael ruffled feathers when he questioned the standard of professionalism in the PSL after he said that the Sisa Dukashe Stadium pitch wouldn’t be good enough for the eighth or ninth division in Belgium. A number of people, including club officials, reacted by saying that he should be grateful to be working in SA because if he was good enough he would be coaching in the elite league in his home country.
Eymael was very harsh to his players in yesterday morning’s training session to prepare for Ea Lla Koto’s match against Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday in the Nedbank Cup semifinal at Moses Mabhida Stadium. He was as strict as a drill sergeant, barking instructions and throwing jibes at players who weren’t doing what they should have been doing.
“I speak very frankly,” Eymael said. “You saw at training, I speak very frankly. I will never say something behind my player’s back. When I have something to say, I will tell him to his face. I am man, I am not a kid. I do the same thing with the club’s management, I am frank with them. This is part of my personality. Some people appreciate this and some don’t appreciate it.
“I am not the nicest girl. But even the nicest girl in the world cannot please everyone and make everyone fall in love with her. Everyone is different. I speak frankly not only with journalists, but also my management and players. This is the most important thing in life and I will not change it.”
Eymael’s frankness got him in trouble with the usually composed Chiefs’ coach Steve Komphela, who hit out at coaches who openly spoke about their desire to coach Amakhosi. Komphela questioned the integrity of those coaches before telling them to be careful what they wished for.
“I think that’s not your problem (whether there is bad blood between the coaches),” Eymael said. “I was asked by a journalist whether this match is Komphela versus Eymael? I am 58-years-old. My playing career finished a long time ago. I retired when I was 40, which is 18 years ago. Mr Komphela’s playing career is also finished. He is 50-years-old now. It’s certainly not Komphela versus Eymael. There is no conflict. It’s only Chiefs versus Free State Stars.”
What also makes this clash interesting is that Eymael has been touted as one of the candidates that Amakhosi are looking at to replace Komphela.
“(These are) just rumours. I don’t believe in rumours. I’ll even watch you straight in your eyes – until now, I have never been contacted by Chiefs and SuperSport United. Other PSL teams have contacted me. Mr Rantsi (Mokoena, Stars general manager) knows those teams very well.”
Meanwhile, the pressure SuperSport United are under in their battle to avoid relegation is a breeze compared to what Richard Boateng experienced in his other stints outside the country of his birth.
The Ghanaian’s ability to keep calm in volatile situations will come in handy for Matsatsantsa, who find themselves in an unfamiliar position.
Boateng witnessed the start of the 2011 civil war in Libya which led to the capture and killing of Muammar Gaddafi during his time at Al-Ittihad.
“My time there wasn’t bad. I enjoyed it up until the war started,” he said. “I was saved by the club. They made sure that everything was well with me, until they realised that it was getting serious and they found a way for me to go back home.”
Boateng returned to Ghana to play for Bekerum Chelsea. In 2012 the plucky Ghanaian side produced the most memorable moment in the club’s history in continental football by beating Zamalek and TP Mazembe in the group stage of the Caf Champions League to finish above the White Knights. It was a remarkable fairytale run in a group that featured African football royalty Al Ahly, the Ravens and Zamalek.
Mazembe signed him after that campaign and he went on to win the 2015 Champions League and played at the Fifa Club World Cup.
There might have been no civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo during his four years there, but every match Mazembe took part in was war as all their opponents wanted to upset the five-time African champions who have to win every match and every competition they’re involved in.
Matsatsantsa will need Boateng’s energy tonight in their clash with 16-time Kenyan champions Gor Mahia at Lucas Moripe Stadium in the Confederation Cup playoffs, with a place in the group stage up for grabs.
SuperSport have to overturn a 1-0 loss from the first leg, a tough ask for a side who haven’t scored in their last four matches. SuperSport are just one point above the relegation zone in the PSL with three matches to go.
“Our position in the log is giving everyone a headache,” Boateng said.
“We are not happy. We are working very hard to turn things around. It won’t be easy, but we will do our best to make sure we survive.
“When I was in Mazembe I watched South African football. This country has the facilities and everything. The standard is high. It was my dream to play in South Africa and my dream is fulfilled.
“I’ll do everything humanly possible to ensure that that dream doesn’t end in a nightmare.”