They are like Brazil
JDR Stars assistant coach Hassan Falayajo chats to Soccer Laduma’s Peter Raath about his coaching achievements. The Nigerian ex-pro also discusses the Super Eagles’ superiority over Bafana Bafana, praises goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare and gives an injury l
Peter Raath: Prior to helping promote JDR Stars in 2018/19, which have been your most rewarding coaching posts?
Hassan Falayajo:
Peter, there’ve been quite a few since my arrival in 2002 from Nigeria. Being selected as head coach of a SAFA Tshwane U21 team is up there in the list. That came after I guided Blue Stars to top position of the SAB League in 2016/17, while I also enjoyed my time coaching Black Leopards’ second team, Phungo All Stars, in the old SAFA Second Division after an offer from David Thidiela. But I can’t forget organising a team of local Nigerians to play friendly matches against SuperSport United, Mamelodi Sundowns, University of Pretoria and Arcadia Shepherds. During 2003/04, we won a cash prize of R20 000 after finishing as runners-up to Sundowns in an Easter tournament sponsored by them and other companies. I have a good relationship with Pitso Mosimane after facing him at both SuperSport and Sundowns.
PR: What else can you tell us about yourself?
HF:
I was born to be a leader. In Lagos, I captained my team before getting an offer to come to SA, where I signed for Ledwaba Power Stars. We played in the MTN Inland Stream of the old First Division against clubs such as City Sharks, Pietersburg Pillars, Dobsonville All Nations and Dynamos, who won our league in 2001/02. I regard myself as a very humble coach, hard-working, loyal and ready to learn. Besides
that, I’m a father figure to my players and I like those that are dedicated to achieve. I turn bad to good. My football philosophy is keeping possession in a moving, passing game. I’ve learnt a lot here, I appreciate all those people who’ve trusted me and I’m grateful for the opportunities given. I'm very happy having done the CAF B licence after first passing the SAFA introductory soccer coaching course with Steve Coetsee in 2007. Over the years, I’ve worked with many notable players and believe that I wouldn’t get the same chance in Nigeria to become a coach.
PR: Whilst on that subject, in your opinion, why are the Super Eagles
stronger than Bafana Bafana? HF:
Let me say that the Nigerian nation is a soccer country. They are like Brazil. All the people eat and sleep football. Everybody wants to play on the streets, even in rural areas. Many players that make their names these days are from poor families. My country is like a school of football. We all have that passion for the game, we want to go out and showcase our individual talent. Most of the players are dedicated hard workers, but we unfortunately don’t get support from our leaders. Together with our food and lifestyle, we’re strong mentally and like to achieve our goals. Dedication is the key. Personally, I think that I can be the best coach for the
Nigerian national team at any level. The last time when I spoke to the Super Eagles’ media officer, Mr Babafemi Raji, about taking over the U17s, he asked for my CV, having previously interviewed me on Sports Radio Brila FM. I will apply again when another opportunity arises because Raji can see the good job that my boss Nditsheni Nemasisi and I are currently doing.
PR: But the Hammer Boys, who’ve been hovering in and out of a playoff spot, dropped seven vital points in three games, which included a heavy 3-0 defeat to Free State Stars with whom you shared 37 points at round 25. Any reason for this drop in form?
HF: Yes, the bad loss to Free State was as a result of players being tired and injured. Our team has been struck by lots of injuries. Some of our best players such as Vusumuzi Mncube, Tebogo Mabula and Sipho Zwane, whom I rate as the best number 10 in our league, have been out. There are others too, like left back Felix Noge, Elias Mocheko and young winger Olwethu Ncube. We might not have scored in those three games, but our goalkeeper, Badra Ali Sangare, kept his 10th clean sheet in a 0-0 draw with Polokwane City. For me, Sangare has been one of our star performers. The 34-yearold is someone who plays so well with his feet, talks to the defenders and isn’t scared. That’s why he’s our captain, having also recently helped the Ivory Coast to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. I had a meeting with the players after that disappointing home draw. We are a very good playing team and will soldier on.
PR: There was further discouragement when you suffered a 1-0 loss to Cape United. What went wrong?
HF: I don’t know what the problem is. We’re missing shots at goals. The worst thing was that our captain, Siphosihle Zitho, scored an own goal. The chairman says people are doing muti to (against) our team. He must go and fix it.
PR: Thanks, Hassan. HF: My pleasure, Peter. It’s been a tough month for me with fasting during Ramadhan. ❐
perception on this phenomenon and consider this: Thomas Muller has all the freedom at Bayern Munich but doesn’t do shibobos or hold the longer than the other players on the field. Rather, he moves all over the pitch to create space for his teammates and it is not by chance that he been bagging a lot of assists. Before we do shibobos, let us motivate our players to know these things: passing, crossing, shooting, all the while teaching them tactical awareness. Kwazikwakhe Ngcobo, via email
A good win by Leopards in the Limpopo derby to keep their slim chances of survival alive. It would be a sad day indeed forthepeopleofVendaifthe team were to be relegated. The socio-economic benefits of having a team from that region in the elite league can never be underestimated. Yet, at the same time, we cannot say this has not been coming for Leopards as the team has been surviving relegation for years now. The constant changes in the technical team have not helped in terms of consistency and management are to blame for it. I hope that they can learn from it, but unfortunately, might learn the hard way by getting relegated. I just hope they escape the dreaded axe for the sake of football in Limpopo. Sundani Ratombo, Chiawelo
I hold Mbule and Mokoena, the two SuperSport midfield kingpins, in high regard. Their talent and focus on their careers is great. However, I have a problem with how it seems they’re held in high esteem above all the other players who have been provisionally selected for Tokyo Olympics, before the final 22 players are announced. Let Sipho and Teboho go and play at the Olympics because of talent and being deserving of their place, not because someone out there is desperate to sell them overseas. This is going to put Notoane under pressure to play these two guys at all costs. These two guys are talented, but I don’t believe they are the very best that Mzansi has produced. They should be counted among the best that we have, lest we corrupt their minds and make them think far above themselves. On another matter, I knew Bucs couldn’t be trusted to “fix the country” as TTM and Chiefs had done. I can’t believe that JZ, with the talent at his disposal, has embarrassed the Happy People so much by being beaten by Sundowns twice so bad within a short period. Our member of the Soccer Laduma Readers WhatsApp group and a regular
MAKE YOUR POINT contributor, Mr Sibusiso Khumalo, often writes about how poor JZ is in managing Bucs, and I now agree with Mntungwa that JZ is bad newsforBucs.Asformybeloved Amakhosi, I’d rather reserve my comment. Our defence is terrible and I wonder how they sleep at night knowing that they are costing us. Only four or five players are fighting for the badge, the rest are just going through the motions. Mompati Panyaza Ndlovu, Lekubu Village, Zeerust
As a huge fan of Real Madrid, I’m amazed at how Messi has carried the Barcelona team on his shoulders. I must admit I was one of those who thought they wouldn’t even qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season or even win any domestic cups this season after that controversy of Messi wanting to leave the club. That guy is the engine and driver of that team. I wonder what would have happened if he were to be injured for maybe three to six months. His impact on that team though... damn! Even as a true fan of Los Blancos and CR7, I do admirer the little magician. I think it’s time for Barcelona to release him to go to another club and face new challenges because he really did his job this season.