Johannesburg - Pitso Mosimane, currently the longest-serving elite league coach in the country as he closes in on four years at Mamelodi Sundowns, has questioned the high turnover of his domestic counterparts and fears that the hiring and firing tradition could be to the detriment of South African football.
Three local coaches in Allan Freese (Highlands Park), Roger de Sa (Ajax Cape Town) and Serame Letsoaka (Bloemfontein Celtic) all lost their jobs last month due to poor results.
Freese was fired after five matches, with Gordon Igesund coming in as his replacement, while De Sa resigned having failed to win a match in seven outings and former Ajax Amsterdam goalkeeper Stanley Menzo was quickly promoted from the youth academy to be his successor.
Letsoaka finally threw in the towel last week following a turbulent year at Celtic.
“I am worried about the chopping and changing of coaches,” Mosimane told The Star. “When things were not going well for me at Sundowns, brothers like Roger were behind me and spoke out. Even when I was with Bafana (between 2010 and 2012) having my issues, he was there for me.
“I have to pay back the favour, but also because he is a good coach. I thought he would be at Ajax for 10 years. I don’t understand why he should be fired.
“Of course, the results were not there, but it is only for now, with time they will come.
“I also get worried that Freese and Serame were also fired.”
Mosimane argued that the trio could not have become bad coaches overnight, especially given the fact that it was Freese who was instrumental in helping Highlands Park gain promotion to the top-flight through the play-offs as recent as in June.
“How bad can he (Freese) be that he should be sent packing? He even lost to Kaizer Chiefs with a controversial penalty,” the Sundowns coach explained. “Can you believe it? Serame is another one. Who is next now?
“I am praying for everybody who isn’t winning games at the moment. I am happy that Cavin Johnson (coach of Platinum Stars) finally won a game now because maybe he was next. I know this is a game of results, but sometimes you ask yourself whether the guy coming in will do better or not.”
Mosimane said there was an unhealthy lack of patience in the Premier League although he understands that the money involved makes it difficult for club bosses to hold off pulling the trigger on underperforming coaches.
“You have got to understand that team owners don’t want their franchises to be relegated. What is the value of the Moroka Swallows franchise now? It’s business. But I am also asking if they think it will get better?
“What does history tell you on chopping and changing? That formula has never worked,” said Mosimane. “And Freese and Roger have won cups (with other clubs before).
“It wasn’t long ago that Freese won two trophies at Platinum Stars (the MTN8 and Telkom Knockout in 2013). We just forget these things. He is a credible coach.
“Serame was a leading member of Gordon Igesund’s technical team at SuperSport United. I can say that because I know. I need to speak on their behalf because they kept me going when days were dark at my end. We also have children at school as well as bonds and loans.”
Will Freese, De Sa and Letsoaka bounce back?
“It’s a cut-throat business, but they will,” Mosimane said.
“Roger reached the (CAF) Champions League final (with Orlando Pirates in 2013). How bad can you be? I feel sorry for these guys because their track record is there for everyone to see.”
@superjourno
@extrastrongsa
Independent Media