Helman Mkhalele
Former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates midfielder Helman Mkhalele tells KICK OFF about life after his playing career and how he is now helping the next generation of stars as a second assistant coach with the South Africa Under-20 side. He is excited to
The former Pirates star on helping the country’s next generation shine
Helman, how has life been since your playing days ended almost a decade ago?
I have a teaching diploma, which has helped me a lot, after my playing career ended, to look after my family. We used to earn a lot of money in football, but life is no longer like that – I must do what I can to make sure that my kids have a roof over their heads, food, live a decent life and go to school. I was able to go back and look for a normal job and be like anyone, and not remain a celebrity – but to live a decent life. I always encourage players to pursue education in order to make sure that life after football is sustainable.
How has it been, working with Under-20 coach Thabo Senong?
It’s been such a great eye-opener for me, especially as someone who has played at the highest level in football. I’ve played for the national team, played overseas and played for big teams like Jomo Cosmos and Orlando Pirates. So when I first interacted with the coach, I was so humbled by the way he was so professional in doing his job, as well as the experience and knowledge he had – he is someone who is not intimidated by my status. He is open-minded, and to find somebody like that has really taught me a lot about the importance of becoming a better person.
Did you have a problem working under such a young coach?
It’s something that I taught myself while I was still playing. In the national team there was a time when Thabo Mngomeni was my captain, even though I was older than him. When you serve under somebody who is younger than you, it is very important that you give him the respect that he deserves as your leader. So working with coach Thabo, as young as he is, I give him the respect that I would give to an elderly coach.
What are your responsibilities?
I am the assistant coach, but I would like to emphasise that I am the second assistant coach. We have coach Thabo Senong and the first assistant coach is David Notoane. I’m always on stand-by whenever necessary and I come in to assistant, especially when coach David is not available. I’m more on the motivational side, as well as identifying the weaknesses in the team, especially when it comes to the mental part for the players. We encourage them to stay focused, even if things are not going well. We try work on the emotional aspect because emotions are very important in football.
Is it difficult to incorporate players into the national team who have come through some of the less structured development pipelines?
That’s one of the challenges that we are faced with in South Africa. At youth level, very few teams provide proper coaching for players, so it becomes difficult for the national team coaches to go out there and get the results because they have lots of work to do in terms of trying to teach players the basics that they should have learned at club level. This is still a huge challenge, though it must also be said that some teams have done a great job in making sure their players are properly developed so that when they go to international games, they are able to perform and achieve the results that we all aspire to.
Who are stars to look out for, other
than the ones we already know like Phakamani Mahlambi and Luther Singh?
There are a number of promising players. When I got into the national team setup, I was really disappointed to find out that some of the players that really deserve to be playing in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) are not. I’m not the coach of those clubs, but when I look at the standard of our players that are playing in the PSL compared to these players, it amazes me to see that these guys are not given an opportunity. Sibongakonke Mbatha (seepage 26) has done a great job. Orlando Pirates’ Sandile Mthethwa … when I look at him, I feel that he needs to be given a chance at Pirates, for him to get that experience. Even Siyabonga Ngezana from Kaizer Chiefs has done a good job for our team – yes he didn’t play all of the games for us, but when you look at his application, it gives you confidence that this player can play. Wiseman Meyiwa, also from Kaizer Chiefs, is a very good defensive midfielder who I feel you can throw in at any given time.
Do you think those PSL teams are protecting the young players?
I don’t think they should throw them right in the deep end: a smooth integration would see these players sitting on the bench in some of the games, training with the first team, or being given 10 to 15 minutes in a game. We need to have them playing in a more competitive environment. Look at our counterparts: when you take Zambia and the other teams we played against in the Nations Cup, most players from those teams are playing in the first teams at their clubs.
Where do you see your coaching career going from here?
As someone who wants to stay in football, I always make sure I keep on learning, especially
“IT AMAZES ME TO SEE THAT THESE GUYS ARE NOT GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE PSL.”
from coaches like coach Thabo, David, [Molefi] Ntseki and others I interact with to gain more knowledge in coaching. Currently I do not have a specific goal, and do not want to become a coach in the PSL just yet – I’m not in that mindset. I believe I still have lots to learn in coaching.
So even if Orlando Pirates come for you …
[Laughs] No, I wouldn’t take the job at Pirates. Maybe as an assistant, not necessarily assistant in terms of position, but a person who can come in as a helping hand.
The head coach seat is hot, neh?
It is very hot, mfowethu. It is very hot to a point that it will break you. You could find yourself totally out of football – not being fired, but killed mentally, which also kills your creativity and your work ethic. That it is something that needs to be nurtured properly, so that when you get in there you must be ready to withstand all the challenges that coaching has. Many feel that after your playing days, you can just walk in and become a coach. But you need much more than playing experience. You need to go through the proper coaching programmes and also get practical experience.
The last time South Africa qualified for the Under-20 World Cup was in 2009. How does it feel to be part of history again?
It’s a great experience, and a great feeling for the players to know that they have achieved what the class of 2009 and 1997 achieved. The class of 2017 now have an opportunity to go out there and make history for themselves and the nation by doing well. Our ultimate goal is to go out there and win the tournament.
You are also a continental champion ... do you still have your winner’s medals?
When I saw Mamelodi Sundowns, especially when I looked at the young [Percy] Tau, when he was trying to bite his medal, I felt so bad because I realised that my medal was gone. It got lost, and I didn’t have an opportunity to grab it and look at it to compare it to what the Mamelodi Sundowns players were wearing after the game. My medal got lost when we were moving house; I found out later that some of my valuable things were not there. My 1996 Nations Cup winner’s medal also got lost moving house.