Kaitano ready for SuperSport challenge
PRETORIA. - SuperSport United caretaker coach Kaitano Tembo says he will try by all means not to disappoint the bosses if asked to take the team forward in the new season.
Tembo has been in charge of SuperSport since coach Eric Tinkler resigned last term and looks set to continue, having taken the side through their paces in the pre-season.
Matsatsantsa are scheduled to play their first league game of 2018/ 2019 against Cape Town City in the Mother City on August 4. United’s participation in the MTN8 remains in doubt due to the ongoing Tendai Ndoro eligibility saga.
“The trust means a lot to me because it is not always easy to be at the club for this long and you get such opportunities,” Tembo said.
“All I can do is to appreciate the trust, the respect and the confidence the club has had in me. It’s very important that I do my job properly as it is my last. I’m not really concerned about the position; what really matters for me is what do I do now not to disappoint the bosses who have shown confidence in me.
“I know I’m not under pressure other than the pressure to do well and not let down the club and the players who have responded very well to my philosophy.”
Asked if the club have told him whether he will be charge for the coming campaign, Tembo said: “For me it is just business as usual. I’m focusing on preparing the team and I have been in charge of the team for the last six months.”
Should he continue to lead the team, Tembo is aware of the expectations from management. “I have been here for quite some time and this is an ambitious club. It’s all about winning things.
“For me, especially with the team we FORTY-THREE years ago, the magical Ebson “Sugar’’ Muguyo blazed a trail for Zimbabwean footballers when he landed at Kaizer Chiefs and made such an impact he was recently named the 13th greatest Amakhosi player of all-time.
Only Tinashe Nengomasha, who was named at number 50, was the other Zimbabwean who made that list of the greatest 50 footballers to play for South Africa’s most supported football club, with Patrick “Ace’’ Ntsoelengo occupying top spot.
Nelson “Teenage’’ Dlala was named the second best of the lot, with Doctor Khumalo in fifth place and Lucas Radebe in 10th place. In his first full season with the Amakhosi in 1976, Muguyo scored 26 goals, 18 in the league and eight in knockout competitions, and was recently honoured by club owner Kaizer Motaung, who invited him to watch the Soweto Derby and meet some of his old teammates.
More than 20 Zimbabwean footballers have featured for Chiefs since Muguyo started this romance with the Amakhosi in November 1975 and became the first Chiefs player to score a hattrick in the Soweto Derby in a 5-1 hammering of Orlando Pirates on December 3 that year.
Chiefs have become a favourite home for Zimbabwean footballers, with a number of them - Willard Katsande, Thomas Sweswe, Knowledge Musona, Ovidy Karuru, have and the players, we want to compete with the top three. That’s our target and we know we have the players at our disposal for us to do that.”
Tembo also gave an update on defender Bongani Khumalo, who is training with the club following the expiry of his contract at Bidvest Wits at the end of June.
“We are still assessing him and if everything goes well during his period, we will issue a statement on that as well.”
Meanwhile, Golden Arrows have signed Zimbabwe left-back Divine Lunga.
Lunga was on the books of Chicken Inn in his homeland and has been training with Abafana Bes’thende for a few weeks now.Arrows coach Clinton Larsen also revealed that he was assessing the left-back at the club. The 23-year-old comes at a time when the club is in desperate need of a leftback after the departure of Lehlohonolo Nonyane, while Zolani Nkombelo recently suffered a serious injury at training.
“The club has signed Divine Lunga and he’ll be with the team this coming season,” a source told KickOff.com.
Lunga was part of the Zimbabwean side that recently won the COSAFA Cup in Polokwane.
“He played in all three matches on the Warriors’ way to glory. He’ll be the third Zimbabwe player at the club, with striker Knox Mutizwa and defensive midfielder
Percy Tau has moved to the English Premiership has left many questioning the wisdom of Billiat’s decision to cross the floor and play for the Amakhosi who are without in a trophy in the past three seasons. But Billiat has, finally, revealed why he decided to join Chiefs.
“I considered a lot of things - my family and everyone, and Kaizer Chiefs had been on top of everyone - showing love and interest in me,’’ he told Kick-Off.
“I respect that and I had no choice but only to come here. There was a couple of them (offers from overseas) and, I think Chiefs, I respected them. I’ve always wanted to play for them and I was just waiting for them to say something so that I could move.”
The forward said Kaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung, who has always shown confidence in Zimbabwean players, showed him a lot of love when he visited his parents’ home in Harare to convince them that Billiat’s future would be better served at the Amakhosi.
“It’s something that’s emotional man. You know, coming to see my parents and talking to them has never happened in my career, and it’s something I take with my heart,” he told Kick-Off.
“I really respect that, and my family supported that. They felt so respected, and all I need is for my family to be happy.
“So, I was so happy about it and I thank the club and Bobby for coming to see my parents and speaking to them.”