‘I’m doing a good job as Pirates coach’

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 31, Roger de Sa (Pirates Coach) during the Orlando Pirates press conference at PSL Offices on October 31, 2012 in Johannesburg, South Africa Photo by Lee Warren / Gallo Images

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 31, Roger de Sa (Pirates Coach) during the Orlando Pirates press conference at PSL Offices on October 31, 2012 in Johannesburg, South Africa Photo by Lee Warren / Gallo Images

Published Apr 19, 2013

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Johannesburg – Roger de Sa is either living in lalaland or South Africa is teeming with a deluded bunch of football followers.

While it is generally agreed that De Sa is failing spectacularly in his role as Orlando Pirates coach, the man himself is of the view he’s doing a mighty fine job of it.

“Tell me, are we second on the table because I am bad or because I am good? I think I’ve done very well. I took Pirates from 10th place to get them challenging for the championship with five matches to go.”

Granted the Buccaneers are mathematically still in with a chance of retaining their championship. And given that they won both their titles on the final day having chased, it would be folly to bet against them doing it again.

But having failed to win a single match out of their last eight has seen the side that dominated the local game in the past two seasons fall six points behind arch-rivals and champions-elect Kaizer Chiefs.

Such has been Pirates’ recent form that most of their fans are calling for club chairman Irvin Khoza to get rid of the man who has a three-year contract.

De Sa, however, remains unfazed by it all – his nonchalance the afternoon after yet another disappointing evening before somewhat uncharacteristic of a man who should be feeling the full might of pressure that comes with occupying one of the country’s hottest coaching seats.

Having just arrived in Johannesburg from the Free State where they drew with home side Stars, De Sa is a picture of calmness as we sit for our hour-and-a-half interview at a restaurant near the Pirates offices.

That he gladly poses for a picture with a patron who is eager to return to the office “and show my colleagues that I met the coach of their favourite team” speaks volumes of the man’s state of mind – relaxed.

While he admits to feeling the pressure brought about by failure to win, the former Wits coach refuses to let outside forces get to him.

“I only listen to football people,” he says. “People that matter, because here at home our football intelligence is very different (read non-existent, particularly the fans). Yes the fans have their right to complain when we don’t do well … But I’ll only get worried if the chairman or my players are not happy with the work I am doing. They are the people who know the game and are aware of the efforts I am putting in to make the team a success. They are football people.”

As The Ghost get their knickers in a twist at what is fast looking like Pirates surrendering their title to the arch enemy, De Sa is put at ease by a conversation he had with Khoza when he was offered the job.

“When you join a team that has won two successive trebles you’re bound to worry about expectations. But Irvin gave me some comfort. He said to me ‘we can’t win it every year’ but the key is to try. And I believe we’re trying.”

His and Pirates’ attempt at emulating Pretoria sides Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United (he is quick to clarify that’s not their motivation to win the championship) and win the league three times in succession has not been helped by long-term injuries to key players, he says.

“Imagine if you took (Itumeleng) Khune, (Tefu) Mashamaite, (Erik) Mathoho, (Morgan) Gould and maybe Yeye (Reneilwe Letsholonyane) out of Chiefs. They will be badly affected. While I accept that we’re big clubs with big squads it will be difficult to do well without so many of our key players.”

And, De Sa believes, he should be given credit for having kept Pirates in the running at this stage despite having to do without the likes of Moeneeb Josephs, Siyabonga Sangweni, Rooi Mahamutsa, Thandani Ntshumayelo, Sifiso Myeni and Benni McCarthy for extended periods.

“I think with all the injury problems we’ve had this season, to still be in contention means we’ve done very well. And we still believe we can do it (win the championship). It’s not over yet. And we’re still in Africa (the CAF Champions League), which is something that has not happened at the club in the past two seasons.”

De Sa says the biggest problem is that South Africa is a generally negative country where people tend to focus on the bad things.

“People are just not crediting Kaizer Chiefs for the wonderful work they’ve done this season. They signed some very good players and brought in a good coach. What people also don’t realise is that Pirates were actually in a similar position to what we are in last season. They won the league with 58 points and my target when I took over was 60, but Chiefs have done so well that those might not be enough to win the championship despite it being an improvement on last season.

“At this time last year, Pirates had 56 points, we are on 55 points – so tell me, am I doing badly? The difference is that Chiefs have been better and people just don’t seem to see that.”

They probably do, especially Pirates fans, but they don’t like it. After all their team should be better than Chiefs and De Sa is failing them in that regard.

“I was hired to do a coaching job and I am doing it to the best of my ability. Yes it is frustrating that we haven’t been winning and the fans get angry. But they must know that I probably hurt more than they do when we don’t win. It is not only my reputation that it is at stake here but my career too – I have a family to take care of and this is how I do it, so I have to do the best I can, and believe me I am.”

Perhaps your best is just not enough?

“That’s for the chairman and the players to decide, nobody else. And I have enough respect for Khoza, we have a good relationship. We speak man-to-man and our chats have always been straight from the heart, and if he’s to say to me I am not doing well, I’d shake his hand just like I did when I came in and move on. But until then I am going to give him and this club my best.”

His best, as far as Pirates fans are concerned must be to deliver a third successive championship. Anything less and they’ll be baying for his dismissal. – The Star

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