Masutha not spooked by new arrival
Cusin Leopards’ technical director
The arrival of technical directors at South African football clubs is often viewed as a ploy for clubs to get them familiar with the environment before they take over from the head coach.
Black Leopards coach Joel Masutha has a different sentiment after Lidoda Duvha announced Italian-born coach Stefano Cusin as their technical director yesterday.
Masutha insists Cusin is not a threat to his job as the team gears up for a return to the top flight after securing its elite league status via the play-offs in May.
“For me, his arrival is my chance of growing. Football is broad and it needs different people to perform different roles. This is my chance to learn a different culture.
“It’s a good thing,” Masutha told Sowetan shortly after a media conference in Polokwane yesterday.
“I am someone who is not afraid of challenges. I feel like the arrival of Cusin is a way of the team to empower me. We will combine our knowledge to make sure that Leopards benefit.”
Leopards also unveiled their new signings yesterday, with former varsity football sensation Themba Ndlovu and exKaizer Chiefs defender Chris Matombo the only familiar faces.
Lesedi Kapina and Khethukuthula Zwane have also been added to the Lidoda Duvha squad, while the club is still working on concluding deals with Lesotho international Luciano Matsoso and Tumelo Khutlang.
“Our new signings comprise most of the NFD players but we are also working on bringing players with some topflight experience. I am happy with how the pre-season is going,’’ noted Masutha.
Only time will tell if Cusin has not been brought in to dislodge Masutha at the helm.
In 2008, Leopards appointed Boebie Solomons as technical adviser, overseeing then coach Hans-Dieter Schmidt.
It didn’t take long before Solomons took over the coaching job after the German was fired three months later.