Chokoe plans for promotion
AMBITIOUS: TTM COACH INTENDS FULFILLING MANDATE A SEASON EARLY
Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila coach Sello Chokoe was probably one of those annoying students who would submit their assignment long before it was overdue and remind the teacher of the homework they had given in the previous day.
Chokoe has always tried to excel whenever given a chance. He was just 28 when he boldly introduced himself as a coach, guiding then ABC Motsepe League side Baroka FC to famous wins over Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows in the Nedbank Cup.
After that, he received a number of offers, with some teams wanting him as an assistant but he declined and said he wanted to grow as a coach. Now 35, Chokoe has grown into the role and has also abandoned the white glove he wore on his left hand which made many believe it carried his magic powers.
He is now coach at new National First Division side TTM who are in their second year in the division. Chokoe was given three years to get the side promoted to the Absa Premiership, but he is planning on finishing his assignment a year earlier.
“I was given three years to take the team to the top flight,” he told Phakaaathi yesterday. But 11 games into the season, Tshakhuma are second with 19 points, four behind leaders Stellenbosch FC.
“We now have two games left – two at home and two away – before the summer break. We want to go into the break sitting at the top or second because we plan to go all the way this time. Last season we competed and saw where we were lacking and fortunately when we asked management for their support in terms of getting some experienced players in, they obliged,” he said.
Chokoe doesn’t want to be promoted via the play-offs and said they will be pushing for the top spot so they can get enough time to prepare.
“We know it will not be easy, because there are no easy teams. The fact that we lost to a bottomplaced team in our last game tells us that. But we are pushing for top spot. I want this team in the top flight this year,” he said.
Tshakhuma were, meanwhile, drawn against Ubuntu Cape Town – who gave them their first taste of defeat this season in a 1-0 win over a week ago – in the Nedbank Cup qualifiers yesterday and Chokoe aims to advance.
“I know it might be challenging to balance things between the league and the cup run, but I want this team to be out there and one of the ways to do that is to have a good run in this cup so that everyone knows about us,” he said.