Being a good coach is such a difficult task

What coach Pitso Mosimane is doing at Mamelodi Sundowns with his recruitment of players underscores the importance of scouting players for the right reasons instead of just buying for the sake of it because they are in the market as seemed to be the case some years ago where Sundowns would have any number of players but the results were not forthcoming.

This change came about when Mosimane took over in 2012 and we need to credit him for that because now the results are coming and Sundowns have become a dominant force in the Premier Soccer League.

In this transfer window alone, the likes of Andile Jali, Lyle Lakay, Sphelele Mkhulise, Toni Silva and Ali Meza have come in and he still wants three more players. With the huge squad he has at his disposal, it will now be all about his man-management skills.

As a coach, you are not only expected to be able to focus only on the tactics and game plan, but it is important to manage players because they are individuals with different personalities and characteristics. Some of them are introverts while others are extroverts and some come from dysfunctional environments and backgrounds, and it is important that you acquire the skill of dealing with all kinds of players both on and off the field.

You need to be able to manage players who have a huge influence and are big players in the team. Players don’t like to sit on the bench but you need to find a way to keep them happy on the bench instead of them sulking. You need to make sure the players who are on the bench are sitting there with the right attitude that mirrors those who are on the field of play and those in the stands.

In that way, the team will be able to deliver and work towards the set mandates and targets. We have seen this at Sundowns where big-name players such as Anthony Laffor sit out a number of games, but when they come on, you can see the attitude that shows they are clearly part of the process and don’t consider themselves outcasts. They don’t make it about themselves and their egos and that tells you the coach is doing well in terms of managing his top players.

However, with a star-studded squad like Sundowns, there is the likelihood of the coach losing the dressing-room if he is not transparent. If you are a coach who has favourites and victimises players, it might lead to losing your dressing-room.

You need to be honest as a coach and explain situations to players. For instance, when you sign them, these are the reasons you are signing them and players need to understand that football is never about an individual, no matter how good you may be.

Players need to understand that in a team, it is customary to compete with other players for positions, and even though you

might be considered to be a bigger player in terms of your status, you will find yourself on the bench with that superstar status because others are working hard and those are some of the things the coach has to remind the players of.

Another thing is that players need to understand football is not a part-time job and their concentration and commitment in a team is paramount.

It is key for players to understand that. And that they need to understand the decisions of the coach because at times you might perceive yourself to be better than the player who is out there but because of tactical reasons you might find yourself left out. As a coach, you need to explain such things beforehand so that when situations arise, players will understand, accept it, and not disrupt the dressing-room.