Masilo Modubi

The former South Africa junior international is now carving out a coaching career in Belgium.

“I AM NOW AT STAGE WHERE I FEEL I’M READY, BUT I’M TAKING IT ONE STEP AT A TIME.”

Many South Africans might have forgotten him but former Under-23 international Masilo Modubi is quietly working his way up the coaching ranks in Belgium. The Polokwane-born ex-midfielder spoke to KICK OFF’s Hosea Ramphekwa about life in Europe, dealing with discrimination and why South Africa’s development structures need an overhaul.

If he took a stroll through a busy mall in Johannesburg, Pretoria or Polokwane, Masilo Modubi’s presence would be devoid of fanfare as many a selfie seeker may not be familiar with the status of the erstwhile South African international.

And yet the former midfielder shared a dressing room with the likes Itumeleng Khune, Bernard Parker, Daine Klate, Tsepo Masilela, Lerato Chabangu and Lebogang Mokoena, men whose fame makes it hard for football lovers to ignore.

While some of his national Under-23 teammates, who attempted to qualify South Africa for the 2008 Olympics under Steve Komphela, made names for themselves in the PSL, Modubi was out pursuing his career in Europe.

“Actually, I never wanted to be famous,” he says. “I just loved football and I wanted it to take me out of poverty. That’s what I needed. That’s why you have never seen me so much in [media] interviews.

“As long as I knew my family was good, I was fine. Whether people talk about me to say, ‘you’re the best midfielder’ or whatever, I didn’t care that much. All I cared about much was enjoying my football and having the next contract,” adds Modubi, who is now coaching in Belgium.

Born and bred in Seshego, Polokwane, Modubi was a product of the SAFA School of Excellence and was signed by European giants Chelsea FC together with Jeffrey Ntuka and Simphiwe ‘Boy-Boy’ Mosia.

Though Modubi and his two compatriots, who have both since passed on, were on the books of the English Premiership outfit, they never got to pull on the jersey at elite level. After battling to make the Chelsea first team, due to variety of factors, including work permit requirements, Modubi was loaned to Belgian side K.V.C Westerlo, where he spent eight years in the team’s midfield.

“At Chelsea I used to watch Frank Lampard do extra training every day. I would go chat to Emmanuel Petit, who rarely lost possession in the same midfield position I played in, to ask questions about how to position myself and not give the ball away. To date I still hold onto the same principle of learning,” says Modubi.

Except for turning out for South Africa’s Under-23 side, coached by Steve Komphela, Modubi didn’t get to showcase his talents on home soil. His position suited his personality in that he toiled as a defensive midfielder and not a playmaker, who tend to hog the

headlines. The 36-year-old, who made just four appearances for Bafana Bafana, was part of the country’s elite national team before the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup but didn’t make the cut for the final squad.

After a decade playing in Belgium for Westerlo, Dessel Sport and Witgoor Sessel, Modubi called time on his career in 2016.

‘You have to prove yourself’

Post his playing career, Modubi, who holds a UEFA A-License qualification, set his sights on coaching. In the same year that he retired, the former Ria Stars youth player started coaching at development level.

“I started my coaching career six years ago working with kids in youth camps before I was recommended to a reserve side team of, Kesk Leopoldsburg. I worked there for two years but then left to go and be an assistant coach at a third division club, KVK Beringen.

“We did well and the team got promoted to the second division,” says Modubi.

But during the 2020/21 season Modubi was appointed the head coach of Leopoldsburg, where he is still in charge.

“I had a two-year project to get them to the second division. That’s where I am now but due to the coronavirus pandemic, our year was actually cut short. We actually lost a year on the project of getting the team promoted. The impact of the disruption is huge, especially as a young coach with ambitions,” says Modubi, who is keen to take Leopodsburg to greater heights.

Away for the spotlight, the former Chelsea youth player has been carving a niche and making a name for himself on the coaching platform. His efforts have caught the eye of a number of elite teams in Belgium.

“How I plan my career is actually to build it up slowly and not rush. I do get the offers from Jupiler Pro League teams to coach their teams at the equivalent of MDC level, which is not the same as coaching a lower league side.

“There they give you structure and what you have to do. You don’t get the freedom like when you coach lower division teams to test yourself as to how you can go tactically, how you arrange your team and how you get involved in the process of selling and buying players,” he says.

“When you are coaching a reserve side, what happens most of the time is

that, especially here in Europe, they have a structure like Barcelona to say we want to play 4-3-3 so the whole development side has to play like the first team.

“If you want to grow as a coach, it is difficult to focus on just one formation. I have seen the blueprint of most coaches who are here in Belgium, they progress, and people take notice of their achievements in lower divisions.

“For me, I feel it’s very important to try things and fail. Manage and fail at a lot of things at a lower division and prepare for things to come when you are higher. Fail and fix what needs to be fixed when you are still in lower divisions.

“Ask advice all over and see where you can grow. It’s important not to be caged. I have been an assistant as well so you actually test the waters until you can stand on your own.

“I am now at stage where I feel I’m ready, but I’m taking it one step at a time.”

Dealing with discrimination

In Europe, where discrimination is rife, for any African to make impact in football, whether as a coach or player, they have to be exceptional. Modubi, who grew up playing on the dusty streets of Limpopo, says even the revered Pitso Mosimane would be subjected to scrutiny despite his glittering CV.

“HOW WILL YOU KNOW SOMEBODY IS A GOOD COACH IF YOU DON’T GIVE HIM A CHANCE?”

“Our skin colour will always be a factor whether you like it or not. Even Pitso with his achievements, would be subjected to the same. They first judge you by your skin, then they judge you if you speak the language.

“Then, from there, they just want to see the results. Can he really coach? The respect I have here for being a good player is there, but remember being a good player doesn’t make you a good coach.

“That’s why I started low. I could have easily gone higher. I had an offer to go to Westerlo and coach in the youth earlier on in my coaching career, but I turned it down based on what I felt was good for me.

“Most of us coaches, if you in the development structures, you will forever be in the development structures for the rest of your life. You go to development structures for a long time and because you are based at the club, they don’t see your value.

“For example, Arthur Zwane, I feel like they could have given him a chance. Look at [German] Bundesliga coaches, they are 28, 29, or 32. But how will you know somebody is a good coach if you don’t give him a chance?” argues Modubi.

For most African countries, European coaches are seen as messiahs to lead them to redemption and glory. Whenever the fortunes of a country go down, football association bosses take flights to Europe to lure coaches to the motherland.

By and large, the notion has since trickled down to club level. However, Modubi, who has spent the last two decades in Belgium, says the afro-pessimism is not doing the country good.

“I feel like in South Africa we value Europe so much. I am the first person to say the Europeans should actually get the upper hand because the structures here are good, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t have coaches at home.

“I feel like we should start digging deeper at home and give local coaches a chance. Don’t give them six games and they’re gone. Six games, he plays all draws and loses two, and then you say, ‘hai, he must go,” says Modubi.

“If they fired Gavin Hunt, and you see developments at [Kaizer] Chiefs, then why hire Stuart Baxter? I have nothing against Baxter, I like him but how will we know if Zwane is a good coach?

“Remember, the guy went through the ranks as well. He w was in the Multichoice Diski Challen nge, and he was assistant for Bafana at some point. I don’t know him personally, but I think he is someone who has been observing things and learning from other coaches.”

Though Europeans are ahead of Africa due to infrastructure and technology, Modubi believes, if given a chance, the locals can hold their own.

“It pains me to actually see that there are so many good coaches in South Africa. I have nothing against Belgian coaches, I am in Europe, I know w that I have to prove myself to actually say I’m an African coach h.

“European coaches, just because they coach a second division or third division team in Belgium or wherever, can come easily and coach [Orlando] Pirates, while we have capable coaches locally.

“If we don’t invest in our development for coaches, we will only realise that we missed out when these young coaches go coach overseas,” cautions Modubi.

SA needs development overhaul

According to Modubi, if South Africa means business about developing football, the current structures need an overhaul. He says investment has to be made in building infrastructure, empowering players and youth coaches.

Before that he says there’s a need to rid the country of parasitic elements sucking the life out of the beautiful game and unsuspecting victims.

“Our development will never get better because everyone is concentrating on making money from development. The School of Excellence became the best school in South Africa because nobody paid to go to the school. Talent has no money.

“If you saww most of the guys who were at the SSchool of Excellence, you could teell that we come from poor areaas. Now people like our so-- called legends create develoopment structures and they aask people for money. “Thhen how many players are yyou going to produce? We a ctually have to choose, are wee doing it for the developpment or are we doing it for our pocket?p Do you want the countryy to be better or do you want too make money? “Donn’t fool us with that thing oof saying, ‘I’m starting a develo pment, let’s pay R300 or R4000’. That R300 or R400, for pooor kids, is important,” he lamennts.

“Thhis thing of creating deveelopment in SA, we should actuually be hard on people doing this to us because that is daylight robbery to us. I heard that other teams ask money for you to come to trials. Then what are we creating?

“We are not at that standard of actually asking money from the boys. We used to produce players and most of the boys came from the School of Excellence where they asked nothing from you.”

Modubi’s passion for development is palpable. He says every person involved in football development should be kept in check to ensure that the country can rise to the occasion and compete in global football.

“We have to put in a structure where we hold everyone accountable. Everyone who is responsible for this position, if you don’t do your work, why not? This is what is happening in Europe. Everybody in every position is held accountable.

“As a coach, I am responsible for the three points. It should be the same with SAFA. If somebody is busy with development, we should ask him, what are we doing right now for development? Not the President of SAFA.

“The President of SAFA has to ask the person, what are you doing? If he is not doing his job, let him go and get another person in. That’s holding each other responsible. We are scared. We don’t say nothing. I know sometimes I am too honest. That’s why I don’t do too many interviews because certain things will rub people up the wrong way,” says Modubi.

Modubi has aspirations of returning to the country of his birth to give back the knowledge he has amassed during his time in Europe. For now, the former tough-asnails midfielder shares his knowledge with his peers, among them Calvin Sosibo, Elrio Van Heerden, Tlou Molekwana, and other rising coaches, through a WhatsApp group.

“We are actually interested in helping the country. We share ideas and there’s no competition. That’s what we need. In Europe, I have people and we do that. Why can’t we do that in South Africa, where we could just come together, talk and see how we can improve our football.”

Modubi’s dream is to bark instructions from the dugout in the colours of one of the top teams in the PSL.

“I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD START DIGGING DEEPER AT HOME AND GIVE LOCAL COACHES A CHANCE.”