‘Why do they doubt us?’
Baroka coach Thobejane doesn’t understand critics’ disrespect during team’s good run
BAROKA FC coach Kgoloko Thobejane has reiterated his belief that his side can win the Absa Premiership this year and said he did not understand the mentality of those who doubted his team’s ability.
Baroka played to a 1-1 draw at Cape Town City on Tuesday night in a game in which they had enough chances to win‚ and ultimately gained an away point.
Thobejane is often mocked for his confident statements about his team and himself.
Just a few weeks ago, he was quoted as saying he believed he was the best coach in the Premier Soccer League‚ but said he did not understand why people were so negative towards him.
“This thing of negative attitudes towards other people.” Thobejane said.
“I don’t understand it. Even if I don’t know you‚ I will support you in what you are doing and not turn around and say‚ ‘this one is useless’.
“I would say‚ ‘even if he is struggling‚ he is trying his best‚ and I will support him’.
“But, unfortunately, most people in this world‚ how can I put it‚ they disrespect people‚ they take them as having very little [ability] for no reason.
“Like in football‚ I don’t have those papers [licences] that other people have.
“Initially, I said whether the world likes it or not‚ I don’t want to go for papers‚ I know in myself that I understand football and I don’t fear anyone.
“I will teach football‚ talk football‚ whether you like it or not‚ whether you think I am mad or I am dreaming‚ don’t try to stop me.
“People look at you if you don’t have these things [licences] and they say‚ ‘we prefer others’‚ but to me we are all equal.”
Thobejane said that one of the secrets of his success in leading Baroka to the top of the Absa Premiership a third of the way through the season had been the environment he created in the squad‚ and that he was his own man with clear ideas on how he wanted the team to play.
“Football is a gift from God‚ no one can take it from you‚” he said.
“I just watch and listen every time my players are playing.
“Don’t come to try and influence me to say I must do this or that.
“That’s why‚ in whatever case‚ whether my player is doing bad or good‚ I will always support him and come to his rescue.
Thobejane said he wanted his team to play with freedom, but admitted they were prone to playing within themselves.
“Even the players‚ I find many of them are afraid to actually play football,” he said. “Sometimes they are afraid to have the ball‚ they are afraid to try and dribble‚ to take it and score.
“But they need to experience that [the good and the bad]. We just have to play football.”