JOHANNESBURG – Kjell Jonevret cut a calm figure, hardly remonstrating when things didn’t go Orlando Pirates’ way, but cheered animatedly when they did.
It helped that his opposite number, Steve Komphela, is a gentleman. After the two had a somewhat heated exchange of words, Komphela went to Jonevret at halftime and they shook on it – squashing the tension that came after that exchange.
How the Buccaneers’ coach conducts himself, especially in moments when his team are struggling, is important because the players’ confidence is at an all-time low.
The Swedish coach said that improving their confidence is his primary objective.
After seeing Chiefs take the lead through Joseph Molangoane, Jonevret’s response was to hold an impromptu meeting with his assistants Benson Mhlongo and Harold “Jazzy Queen” Legodi.
He then motioned to the bench how the defenders on the pitch should have stopped Siphiwe Tshabalala and Bernard Parker from opening them with ease.
Kjell: We didn’t play for a draw. If that is what we wanted I wouldn’t have put attacking players like Ndoro (12 goals ) and Norodien.
— Mazola J. Molefe (@superjourno) March 4, 2017
If Jonevret was a shouter, that wouldn’t have worked in this match because even though the stadium wasn’t fully packed, it still had enough people to make passing on any message hard.
Jonevret saw the funny side of that, laughing with the fourth official Thando Ndzandzeka, who had come to tell him to return to his technical area.
The coach motioned to Ndzandzeka how hard it is to relay a message to his players with all the noise.
In the lead-up to this clash, the coach had joked about wearing earplugs and having a detailed chat with his players before the match so that he doesn’t have to do much communicating during the game.
He did none of that, mostly giving his players a thumbs-up and a lot of affirmation – especially after making a mistake.
He punched the air with pride as the Buccaneers equalised, hugging Legodi afterwards.
Orlando Pirates fans were in full voice during the Soweto Derby on Saturday. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu, BackpagePix
The two seem to have a good relationship. That’s important because Legodi has a good understanding with most of the club’s players as the likes of Oupa Manyisa, Patrick Phungwayo and Mpho Makola went through his hands.
The relationship Legodi has with these players showed how fruitful it could be for the club, with Manyisa playing like his old self. He returned to be the Buccaneers’ heartbeat.
This match didn’t wreak havoc on Jonevret’s heart like the last two games did on Augusto Palacios before he handed over the reins to the Swedish coach.
Palacios looked like he was about to collapse from a heart attack before Riyaad Norodien helped the club steal a point from Cape Town City in his last match in charge.
That’s because Palacios lives and breathes Pirates, wearing his heart on his sleeve.
Jonevret kept his emotions in check, standing motionless like a statue in certain moments, just like the security personnel who were littered all over this venue.
There was a strong security presence that thoroughly searched the fans and their bags as they entered the stadium.
Part of that security included undercover police in plain clothes, along with those in uniform. The security guards were prompt to act after disgruntled Pirates’ fans threw water bottles on the field.
They were incensed by the referee’s decision to award a late penalty that Brighton Mhlongo saved.
Jonevret’s mission is to turn the Buccaneers’ defence into something similar to what the securities did, to not be easily breached and quick to prevent trouble.