Three bottles of whisky big problem for Vermezovic

DISCIPLINARIAN is the word Irvin Khoza used as a motivation behind his reason to see Vladimir Vermezovic as a hand-in-glove fit for Orlando Pirates.

A website quoted Khoza saying: “One of the key things we saw in VV is the element of discipline, because what we have seen in South Africa is that if you take control of the dressing room, the job becomes easy.

“So we saw that his strengths are going to be beneficial to the team — bringing in a disciplinarian strengthens that quality, which is important for a winning team.

“Our success in the last few years is because of that element of team spirit, and VV will strengthen it.”

Last Friday, an incident that spoke to that discipline, or lack thereof, played itself out when Pirates sent Santos packing out of the Nedbank Cup.

Khethokwakhe Masuku, clearly incensed at being substituted at half time, returned from the dressing room to the dugout bedecked with headphones.

Headphones are an adequate tool of the trade for a DJ on the ones and twos in a Sunday session full of fashion and passion. But the gadget is out of kilter when it is on a soccer player’s ears while he is sitting on the substitutes’ bench with his team’s match in progress.

It screams petulance in all 11 official languages, even in the 12th unofficial one — tsotsitaal.

“Mad Max” Masuku has since apologised for that brainless act, which even super madcap Mario Balotelli would have frowned upon.

“After being substituted, I was overcome by emotion, thus I acted in the manner I did. I know that wearing headsets/headphones while on the bench is unacceptable and, above all, disrespectful, and it is for this reason that I have written this apology letter,” reads his statement on the Pirates website.

That incident told us some- thing about comeback kid Vlad V’s claim of leaning more on the side of maturity. The Vlad V of old would have, in full view of fans and television viewers, given Masuku a right royal bollocking, sprinkled with a hairdryer treatment to make Alex Ferguson proud.

Judging by Masuku’s apology on the club website, one can deduce that he was told in no uncertain terms that there shall be no repeat of his shenanigans.

Vlad V said that much this week when we dabbled with the issue of discipline.

“I like everything on time. The players have accepted this very well. They are not bad boys. They are good guys. The young players like to be loud and a little more playful, making jokes. That is human. It brings a good spirit. But everything in the right time.

“It boils down to respect, and respect starts with self-respect, because he who has no respect for himself will never have respect for others.

“I don’t compromise on that, respect for coaches, supporters, management, opponents, referees, that must always be on a high level. Because when we’re on the street, there’s no VV or Oupa Manyisa. There’s Orlando Pirates. Children look at them as idols.

“The question is what kind of example do we give to the children. We must always be on the right track. No stupidity, no nonsense. Even when they are in a nightclub, there’s nothing wrong with drinking. One glass of wine is fine.

“But three bottles of whisky, that’s big trouble. That’s not normal for a player. What is normal is to look after your body because that body allows you to play for Pirates. It’s not rocket science.”

It’s discipline. And the disciplinarian has spoken. Comment on this: write to tellus@sundaytimes.co.za or SMS us at 33971