The National First Division side this week announced former Black Leopards and Chippa United mentor Masutha as their new coach until the end of the 2018/19 season, with Tsotetsi demoted to an assistant coach role.
"Me and Mokete, we have been talking. Even during the (ABC Motsepe League national) play-offs we were together," Masutha tells snl24.com/kickoff.
"When they played the play-offs, getting promoted ... I was not like there per se. But we were working nicely together, we were communicating,so everything was kind of good. You know I'm someone who has been fired like twice already, so I know the feeling you see. So I don't want someone to be fired because of me. So I decided no, I can work with him."
Masutha says his mandate at the club is to beat relegation this campaign.
"Survive the relegation. Just survive the relegation and try and make the team stronger, that's it. I will do my job like I usually do. At the same time you know, it's a time for one to regroup and try and make the team better than what it is, and there is potential. Where there is a need for players obviously we'll sign. For now they want me to be settled first until the end of the season, and if I'm still happy then I will continue. I believe that together with the likes of Mokete, and the rest of the technical team, if we put together what I know with what they know also, obviously it will make us a better team. Obviously it will rub off to the players. What I achieved last season (promotion with Leopards) makes everyone here feel good to work with me. They want to work with me you know, with the hope of them getting successful like Black Leopards last season."
After turning down another NFD side Witbank Spurs last year, Masutha explains why he ended up agreeing to go down to the second tier when Maccabi came calling.
"No, Maccabi we have a relationship that goes way back. Then I felt ukuthi I was in the PSL, and already I have been with two teams. So for now I know the structure here. I know the people and on the side we were communicating about what they should do ... Like the main thing is the relationship you see. They used to consult, consultation was there. They are the ones who contacted me. I knew there were plenty of teams (out) there but at the end of the day this second round there isn't much time, you need to act fast otherwise their season might be finished with you being still jobless. So I only responded to the interest that was shown by Maccabi. Spurs, now they have a coach (Shakes Mashaba), anexperienced coach who I think is going to help the team to move forward and be in a better position."
Masutha's first match with Maccabi is against fellow strugglers Cape Umoya United at Athlone Stadium on Monday afternoon.