Watch out for Sekhukhune!

A lot of people seem to be sleeping on Sekhukhune United, one of the newcomers in the DStv Premiership, after they won their automatic promotion to the elite league from the then GladAfrica Championship two seasons ago.

In their second season in topflight football, Babina Noko are still relatively known as a new kid on the block. In fact, many predicted that they would be fighting relegation in their maiden season, but once the first whistle blew, the Ekurhuleni-based side proved to be a completely different outfit to what many had expected. They spent the first quarter of the season among the top teams on the log and when they eventually ran out of steam, which is natural especially for a new team, they had amassed enough points to secure their Premiership status and ensure that they live to fight another campaign in the top tier. Mission accomplished!

One would think finishing 11th would be enough to please #Adibahlabe after eight wins, nine draws and 13 losses. They scored 21 times and conceded 24. They were definitely not out of place and hardly looked like the newly assembled team that they were. If anything, they looked like a well-oiled machine on their day because they knew exactly what to do to safeguard their status. They collected enough points in the first round, while most teams – especially those in the relegation zone, who still thought it was early and there was enough time to get their house in order – were still finding their feet. By the time everyone was desperate for points, Sekhukhune were almost home and dry, with their status secured. Going into their second season, there is something brewing at that club and don’t be surprised to see them causing upsets this time around. This is a team that was, at some stage, in the top three on the log standings. In the first round, Sekhukhune won seven, lost six and drew twice. Had they converted the small margins with which they lost, they could have had an even better first round. Interestingly, they only won one game in the second round, with seven draws. In essence, out of the last 15 league games, Sekhukhune only registered 10 out of possible 30 points and still managed to finish 11th on the log. That means the job was done in the first round. Had they failed to collect as many points as they did in the first 15 games, the script would have been completely different in the second half and they could have easily finished among the relegation candidates.

You have to give Sekhukhune credit because they knew what their first season in the topflight was about, securing their status and finishing as high up as possible, without worrying about relegation. They ticked that box and almost finished in the Top Eight bracket. When the season finished, in an attempt to improve, they made sure to get a new coach even before going to the off-season, so that he could familiarise himself with the team and plan the much-important pre-season ahead of the new campaign. By so doing, coach Kaitano Tembo was given enough time to assemble his technical team, identify the areas he’d like to reinforce and ideal candidates for those positions, before going to the recess. To some people, this may not sound important because it is something so easy to overlook. However, if you’ve been in football for longer, you’ll know and appreciate the importance of a planned pre-season camp. For Sekhukhune to ensure they went to the off-season having secured a new coach was a masterstroke.

Coach Tembo went to the break knowing exactly where he stood with his technical team. He also knew the players that would be staying and going, as well as the players that were likely to be roped in. He surely gave his recommendations to the team before going on holiday. By so doing, they ensured that they would go into the new season well-prepared and ready to do battle. If you look at the way they’ve been signing players for the upcoming season, it is not the same way teams in their position normally do things. Where every Tom, Dick and Harry is given a contract and paraded as a new signing. They’re after quality rather than quantity. It is not a chaotic signing spree, it is clear to see that everything has been thoroughly planned with their acquisition process. They went into the pre-season with new signings and a new coach, who were obviously familiarizing themselves with their new teammates and players and new surroundings. On the other hand, other teams were busy signing players over a week into the pre-season, with new coaches. These things are not important to non-football people, but they make a huge difference and usually become the difference between a team having a good season and fighting for their lives at the end of the campaign. Since gaining promotion, Sekhukhune management have proved to be serious and meticulous about running their club. They’ve been a breath of fresh air instead of becoming another team that would be yo-yoing between the top two divisions from time to time, thanks to poor planning and management.

There are a number of teams who have been in the elite league for longer, that are worlds apart from Sekhukhune from the way they are managing their affairs. Looking at the log standings, one could easily be tempted into thinking Babina Noko have been around the block for seasons on end, when they only made their debut last season. Some of the more experienced teams in the league can take a leaf out of Sekhukhune’s book, learn a thing or two from this new kid on the block.

They’re not perfect, but you can see where they want to take this team. The vision is clear and this is not a team to just make up the numbers in the elite league. They are not going to play for survival for long. The signs of a team looking to stamp their authority and challenge for honours in the DStv Premiership are already there. That not many people would even mention Sekhukhune as one of the teams tipped to be fighting relegation at the end of the season is a clear indication of the ground this young team has covered already. Almost every newly promoted team is expected to find it tough to succeed against the big boys, but not Sekhukhune. So, you better watch out for Sekhukhune as they embark on their second season in top-flight football! They have set the bar and a blueprint on how to survive the rigours of Premiership football.

#Adibahlable, good luck for the new season and know that people are watching you.