Baroka FC learning "hard lessons"

Kgoloko Thobejane has been reinstated as head coach at Baroka, just days after being replaced. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/ BackpagePix

Kgoloko Thobejane has been reinstated as head coach at Baroka, just days after being replaced. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/ BackpagePix

Published Feb 22, 2017

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JOHANNESBURG - As Baroka FC look to stop the rot when they face Absa Premiership title contenders Bidvest Wits away from home on Wednesday night, club chairman Khurishi Mphahlele admitted it’s possible he may have underestimated how high the stakes are in the elite league.

The running of the Limpopo-based outfit has been questioned this week following what appears to be a reversal of an earlier decision to “beef up” the technical team when Mphahlele hired journeyman Jacob Sakala to take over the coaching reins from Kgoloko Thobejane last month.

Sakala, his assistant Edward Williams and technical director Mark Harrison were all suspended at the weekend for apparently refusing to sign letters assuring management that Baroka, currently bottom of the table, would win their next four league matches in an attempt to avoid relegation. Mphahlele did not want to be drawn into discussing these allegations, but confirmed that he’d asked Thobejane to return to his old post with immediate effect.

“He’s happy to be back and I told him this is his chance to show us that we made a mistake by demoting him in the first place,” the Baroka boss explained. “I cannot tell you why Sakala was suspended because he still has to face a disciplinary hearing and it would be wrong of me to speak about this matter in the media. 

"What I can say is that we are learning some hard lessons and hopefully we can recover. The first half of the season showed us that the PSL level is very different to the National First Division. And our players have seen just how tough every match is. If you don’t take your chances you will pay.”

Sakala was in charge of the 2-1 defeat against Chippa United and the goalless draw against Platinum Stars before he was asked to step aside. Wits pose a serious threat for Baroka, but Mphahlele said he wanted to see whether Thobejane could bring back some stability.

“Kgoloko is a soldier,” the chairman said. “Maybe we were in a rush to remove him, but the (positive) results were not coming. Everyone could see that we play good football, but we were not scoring goals and that is what you need to win matches.”

The Star

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