Ntseki needs our 100% support
Da Gama very happy for new Bafana coach
OWEN Da Gama is “very very happy” that a South African in the form of Molefi Ntseki (and not another international coach) has taken over the coaching reins of Bafana Bafana.
“I am very, very happy for Ntseki. I am happy that its a South African. That’s all I have been praying for,” former SA under-23 and Orlando Pirates coach Da Gama said.
Da Gama is of the view that Bafana coaches don’t get enough support, calling for that to change if Ntseki is to be a success.
“There more support a coach gets, the better he works and the harder he works,” Da Gama said.
“If you work with a free mind, you can achieve miracles because there are a lot of good coaches in this country. Support is key. Once you support the coach, there are no excuses to fail. I just hope and pray that Safa give Ntseki all the support that he needs to succeed, and not put things in place for him to fail. They must support him, and the country must see that Ntseki is supported,” Da Gama said.
“We as coaches must support Ntseki 100%.”
Da Gama and Ntseki worked together in guiding the Under-23 national team to the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. The qualifiers of that tournament, the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), were the third Afcon Ntseki had been involved in with the national team, having done so with the Under-17s and Under-20s. He completed a quartet of Afcons by going to Egypt with Bafana as Stuart Baxter’s assistant.
Ntseki was the logical choice for coach, having worked with the national teams since 2009 and offering an element of continuity having deputised for Baxter, Shakes Mashaba and Da Gama.
“He must use the PSL and NFD coaches as part of his technical team because we will support him all the way,” Da Gama said.
“As long as he keeps that open line, he must understand that we are there to support him. Nomakanjani!
“We are there to support him through thick and thin. All I can say is that he mustn’t put himself under pressure. He must start afresh now. I have spoken to him a couple of times and I told him not to just fall into the same pattern – be brave and select the team that you think is right.
“Don’t just sit on the fence and use the same systems and the same team (as his predecessors). You’re a qualified coach.
“You’re a talented coach, do what you think is best and we will support you.” Ntseki will start his tenure on Saturday in an international friendly against Zambia in Lusaka. The team reported for camp yesterday and they will start their training today in Germiston before flying to Zambia on Thursday.
Ntseki has already started on a good note by showing transparency in his squad announcement, naming a strong team that showed he was prepared to be his own man rather than being weighed down by the shadow of his predecessor.
The South African Football Association was quick to announce Ntseki as a full-time coach. They met their target of announcing Baxter’s replacement in September, with the 2021 Afcon qualifiers in November. Bafana will start those qualifiers away against Ghana, and will then host Sudan.