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Lets respect local coaches…

Lets respect local coaches…

Posted: 2010-02-26 10:26

Kaizer Motaung once said that there are only two local coaches capable of coaching Kaizer Chiefs, but refused to name them and I have no axe to grind with the man, because I have no problem with what he said.

However, if one of those two coaches is not Gavin Hunt, then I don’t know what more can local coaches do to earn the respect of the soccer fraternity.

In fact, it is respect that brings me here today. Respect in a sense that local coaches have long earned it, yet they are still perceived as inferior to their foreign counterparts.

Going down memory lane, I once argued a point on my Team KICK OFF page on 8 October 2009, that a local coach must take over Bafana Bafana, when it was clear we were not going anywhere with Joel Santana. I said if it were up to me, I will give the job to Hunt and here is one response that stuck in my mind in the four months gone by.

Sibusiso, a Team KICK OFF member, said: “Tiyani, we tend to forget that SA is part of the global community and sometimes the local people are not the best we can get. We get foreign coaches because they are the best we can get… you need to argue your weak case hence stuff like the useless Cosafa Cup which by the way I think Carlos (Alberto Parreira) also won it”.

“Best” when Santana, for example, had never coached a national team before taking over Bafana. Red flags were ignored and look what happened.

It was me drawing comparisons between the locals and foreign coaches, who had been at the helm of Bafana, that annoyed Sibusiso.

I’m not picking a bone with Sbu today, but I am still concerned about his statement that “We get foreign coaches because they are the best”.

It is this perception that prevents local coaches from occupying their rightful place in local football. It is time we dispel this perception in Africa. Take Nigeria, for instance. They hired Shaibu Amodu; the man qualified the team for the 2010 World Cup and finished third in the recent Africa Cup of Nations. Guess what… they are searching for a foreign coach to replace him, because the perception is that a World Cup stage is too big for a Nigerian coach.

Back to the local scene, it is pointless arguing Hunt’s case to take over Bafana, because the ink on Carlos Alberto Parreira’s contract hasn’t even dried up and more importantly, his mission is not complete. However, when I watched SuperSport United win their third consecutive League title, it reminded me that it might not be enough to earn Hunt, let alone the other local coaches, the respect he deserves.

I remember Gordon Igesund winning the title with Pirates in 2001, but a few months before that he had been attacked by a group of Pirates fans, who arrived at the team’s training ground in a bus. This was after Bucs were knocked out of the Bob Save Super Bowl. Ruud Krol has failed to bring any silverware two seasons running and the supporters are quiet. What if it was a local coach, like Igesund?

This is a topic for another day. Hopefully Hunt’s success is an eye-opener for club bosses, their supporters and Safa officials that local is lekker.

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SIBUSISO: 2010-02-26 12:21

Tiyani wa ka Mabasa

I remember very well from what you quoted above. I have to say that seeing Hunt winning the PSL trophy three times in a row makes him a good coach and well respected coach.

Now TTM....if that the case (at the present moment for Hunt)....why then the past seasons has not reached the knockout stages of the CAF cup?? For me TTM, he might dominate the local football and I have respect for him in that regard.

Having said that...I dont think he qualifies to be BB coach as he can not succeed to be other African teams.

Just think back during the times of Doctor Khumalo and Tebogo Moloi. They both had skills to unlock defence but only Doc was he best for BB. My point is....sometimes a player or coach might be good when it comes to a team but fail when it comes to international standards

Mmusi: 2010-02-26 13:06

'Ruud Krol has failed to bring any silverware two seasons running and the supporters are quiet. What if it was a local coach, like Igesund?' - Hey bro, have you not seen letter & pamphlets calling for Krol's resignation? Do you want the fans to rough him up to show that they are not quiet? You statement is tantamount to incitement.

Back to Hunt, is he good because he won 3 championship or is it the decline of Bucs, Chiefs & Downs. SSU used to be runners-up with the same amount of points they are winning the league with. Other clubs have failed to chalk up the points they used to have. Do your rememmer Chiefs & Downs were once tied at 75pts, only for Downs to be honoured on GD. True, there were 18 teams then but minus 12pts you'll get 63. Now teams can't accumulate 60pts, which is not brilliance of Hunt, but poor form by "Giants" - THEPIEDPIPER

Edwin: 2010-02-26 13:53

Gavin Hunt is a good coach, but for me he should stat at Supersport and continue winning the league to create more competition with other teams, think of Sir Alex, can he go coach National team? another thing Hunt he is not media friendly, he will struggle with PR Job and he is gonner be national asset, I think he need to control his temper for country sake then he can become a national team coach.

TTM: 2010-02-26 14:28

SIBUSISO: 2010-02-26 12:21
I hear you Sbu, but my argument has always been that if you hire Santana, for example, with no international experience, then what's the difference with hiring Hunt? Isn't it better to hire someone, who also doesn't have the international experience, but knows the players better? That's why we always have this strange selections when the foreign coaches are in charge and that's why, ultimately, we haven't achieved anything with foreign coaches.

mudugudugu: 2010-02-26 15:58

Tiyani, when i heard what kaizer said abt local coaches i asked whether he was being interviwed on radio or what.i was thinking maybe he was being misqouted or qoeted out of context.
we must remember that, very few local coaches had an opportunity to coach at a professional level.very few of them did well.now, a couple of coaches were afforded an opportunity and are doing well.notably,mosimane did well,HUNT did well, trott did well,and gordon too, not forgetting rosslee...i gues u are judged by honours u bring to the team...they have all beaten his team coached by a foreigner...motaung must be called for a public debate on radio/TV about this issue.i am sure he will swallow his words..often, his articles on his website are half-baked...

SIBUSISO: 2010-02-26 16:01

TTM: 2010-02-26 14:28

Thats fair enough TTM. But again if what you are suggesting is to go by....why do we have Pitso, whom I believe knows the players better as well but we end up with poor selection of players for BB???

I still remain, a player or coach might do well in their respective teams but fail dismal when it comes to continent or the the international competition.

ANTHONY: 2010-02-26 23:14

Sibusiso, imagine Hunt being a Bafana Bafana coach and we are playing Nigeria. If Mphela scores from an off-side position and the linesman's flag is up and 'goal' is disallowed. He he he he, I feel sorry for the chairs near the coach. Hunt still has to prove himself. Winning the league with only 16 wins out of 29 games is not good enough for me. I agree with the notion that it is the downfall of the big three that is beneffiting SuperSport United.

xolani: 2010-02-27 00:19

Tiyani you said it mouthfully i totally agree with u Bafana Bafana will only win the Afcon when a local coach is in charge like in 1996 or any tournament.

TTM: 2010-02-27 10:57

SIBUSISO: 2010-02-26 16:01
I hear you about Pitso man and that's why I never mentioned him, because his selections used to leave a lot to be desired. But then again, records show the locals have fared better. Even Jomo, whose team has been relegated twice with him in charge (possibly a third) took Bafana to the final of the Afcon, with a team I believe was not strong enough, so it tells you a story somehow.

sean: 2010-02-27 13:51

Tiyani how can you make such an irresponsible statement? You know very well how volatile Pirates suppoters can get. Forget the results for now. After the Derby, I heard a group saying they will moer Krol only for letting go of the likes of Cheese and Segolela and replacing them with Masina. Yoou cant even mention Kamwendo without getting an angry remark. Do not say they are quiet because you wont like what you see...

Douglas: 2010-02-27 14:45

You spot on Tiyani, because I don't remember any so called good foreign coach wins PSL, except Ted who is no longer regarded as a foriegner and Doleza who won it with obvious championships material Sundowns by then. foreigner always study SA soccer for years to achieve that. It's obvious that those who claim not to hire South African coaches are not interested in winning the PSL tittle, which I found it very stupid because PSL is the most important thing than anything else in a football fratenity.

Douglas: 2010-02-27 15:07

South African fans like Spanish Soccer which is dominated by only Real Madrid and Barcelona which is boring, how can a twenty team league dominated by only two teams? PSL is competitive that's why any team can win the if they plan well. those teams that you said they dropped form, why they drop it when our league is so rich? Gone are those days when any good player wanted to play those teams, there are contracts this day to biknd a player.

TTM: 2010-03-01 08:58

sean: 2010-02-27 13:51
LOL, Sean. Relax man Bucs fans are responsible citizens.