Our coaches need strong men around them

Let me first apologise for talking about Bafana again this week. But recent developments in the Bafana coaching fiasco render it impossible for me not to delve into the topic yet again.

My feelings were aroused when I listened to Bafana stand-in coach Owen da Gama’s interviews prior and after the two friendly matches over the past week. He said he would be willing to continue as assistant coach to whoever the new man in charge will be. Then he said he was ready to take the job full-time if it were to be offered.

Now I know what you are thinking: that it was us journalists who asked him questions and he was merely responding. But I have an uneasy feeling about these statements. I like Da Gama. He is a lovely man who is very accommodating and is always jovial and always takes our calls. I have nothing against him except that I don’t think he has enough experience to be handed this huge task of guiding the national team’s fortunes.

I hope Safa have learnt from Kaizer Motaung and Irvin Khoza when it comes to hiring coaches. Coaches never stayed long enough at both Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. They either resigned or were fired. But the assistants always remained.

When Pirates brought in Muhsin

Sibongiseni Gumbi

Ertugral recently, they overhauled the technical team and brought in new assistants in Bradley Carnell and Zipho Dlangalala and later on Benson Mhlongo.

This allowed for new, fresh ideas without that lingering voice which always says “but we have always done things this or that way here”. Although it didn’t work out as anticipated at Bucs, a trend was started and was followed when Kjell Jonovret was hired last month. He came with a new assistant in Harold Legodi.

Chiefs have also adopted the system, it would seem. When Steve Komphela was hired, they initially kept a former assistant who had been there for a very long time, but at the start of this season, they released him and allowed Komphela to bring in an assistant of his choice.

We all know stories and rumours that were there at these Soweto giants previously in terms of the influence the long-serving assistants had on the team, especially their relationship with the players.

I will not dwell on that, but I believe making a clean sweep before a new coach takes office would be the right thing to do. If I were a coach, I would not want to get into a position where there is someone I find there who thinks they deserved a chance as well.

Now I know crying over spilt milk is a redundant exercise, but I just can’t help it. It would be a big blow if Moroka Swallows were to be relegated for the third time in a row and cast into oblivion.

But as things stand, The Beautiful Birds are not done yet and they stand a chance of avoiding a third relegation if they win their last match this afternoon. Good luck Maswaiswai.