All Stars out to soar again under new coach Malesela
NEWMilano United coach Boebie Solomons has wasted no time in revealing his ambition for the coming football season: He wants to win the National First Division (NFD) title to take the Grassy Park-based club to the elite Premier Soccer League.
The 60-year-old Solomons, a household name in local football from his days as a Cape Town Spurs stalwart, has coached Santos, Wits, Black Leopards, Polokwane City and, last season, Cape Town All Stars. He steered Gugulethu-based All Stars to fifth on the NFD table, but decided to switch to Cape neighbours Milano this season.
“We’ve been working hard for four weeks already,” said Solomons. “So far, I’ve been focusing particularly on the players’ fitness levels as well as some tactical drills. We’ve played friendly games against Glendene United, Wits and Ajax Cape Town… and the signs have been positive. The team is making great progress.”
Solomons has roped in Dougie Williams as his assistant-coach, with last season’s assistant, Anees Bassadien, also staying on. Williams played for Wits and Santos, and he had a stint as the technical director of the Cape-based Africa Sports Development Academy. Bassadien is a former Santos midfielder.
A new acquisition at Milano is ex-Santos striker Gregory Roelf, from whom Solomons will be expecting a few goals. The coach added that he would be signing a few more new players, but wasn’t yet in a position to reveal their names.
Solomons, though, has a definite idea of what Milano are lacking.
“For the last three seasons, they have been in the mix for promotion to the PSL, only to fall away toward the end of the season,” he said. “They just don’t seem to be able to finish things off. So my main objective this season is to improve Milano’s mentality, stability and consistency. I want to get them to handle the pressure of a title race.
“Next week, I’m taking the squad on a training camp to Goudini Spa, where we will work on the team spirit... and also play friendlies against teams from Worcester and Paarl.
“But, all in all, the target is to win the NFD title. It is my ambition, it’s the club’s ambition… so we’ll go for it.”