Tembo ready for final

A wry smile and a soft laugh were part of a few things SuperSport United coach Kaitano Tembo offered when he was asked how it would feel if he was to face his former mentor and Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane in the final of the MTN8 after his side knocked out Kaizer Chiefs in the semifinal on Saturday.

“I know Pitso very well and I think it will be very interesting‚ that’s all I can say. It will be very interesting‚” said Tembo of a possible meeting with one the coaches he played for and worked under for many years at United.

About who he would like to meet in the final on September 29‚ Tembo said he’s got no preference between Sundowns and Cape Town City‚ the team they defeated 4-2 on penalties when they won this cup for a second timelast year.

“That one is out of our hands‚” said Tembo. “What’s important to us is to wish everyone who is playing tomorrow [Sunday] the best of luck.”

Tembo who joined United as a player in 1999 was given a two-year contract as the head coach of Matsatsantsa at the beginning of this season.

The former Zimbabwean international had spent 12 years learning the coaching ropes from many astute coaches at United‚ including Mosimane‚ the first man to recognise he could himself become the coach one day.

While coaching United and having Tembo as the captain of the club‚ Mosimane revealed that he used to instruct Tembo to watch other teams and give him reports about their strengths and weaknesses before they played them.

So Tembo’s guided response about a possible clash with his former coach is understandable as the two share lots of notes on the coaching field.