SuperSport United coach Gordon Igesund may be skating on thin ice.
Prior to the start of the season, Igesund impressed everyone with his performance in the transfer market. He made good signings with the likes of Dean Furman, Bongani Khumalo, Phumelele Bhengu, Michael Boxall and Isaka Cernac joining the side. The names on Igesund’s roster led many to tip the three-time PSL champions for glory this season.
Even opposition coaches, Mpumalanga Black Aces’ Muhsin Ertugral chief among them, have punted SuperSport as one of the teams that will contest for the Absa Premiership title and other pieces of silverware in the PSL.
However, it has not been all rosy for Igesund and his men. SuperSport have been blowing hot and cold. In fact by their standards, Matsatsantsa a Pitori have been punching below their weight so far this season.
Under the tutelage of Igesund, Matsatsantsa have managed one win. This doesn’t augur well for Igesund, who is one of the most decorated coaches around.
SuperSport have won once, drawn twice and lost four times in league and cup games. That they lost by heavy scores further adds fuel to under-fire Igesund’s woes. Wits hammered them by 3-1 in the MTN8. Chiefs subjected them to 4-1 annihilation and Platinum Stars beat them 3-1. Their other loss was a 1-0 defeat to Wits in the league.
Igesund has more reasons to worry about his future. SuperSport’s strike force is simply not firing, the defence is leaking goals and some fans are unhappy with his efforts so far. There’s also Stuart Baxter, former Chiefs coach, who is on holiday in South Africa ...
Though Baxter has distanced himself from the top job at SuperSport, there’s an indication that some want to see him at helm of the Tshwane side. SuperSport United boss Khulu Sibiya has dismissed links to the man who led Chiefs to the Absa Premiership title last season. However Sibiya has unflinching principles when it comes to the performance of coaches.
“I employ you, I give you tools and I say what more do you want? You say no this is enough, I say deliver. If you don’t deliver, bye-bye. Thank you, it was nice knowing you,” Sibiya has maintained over the years.
In the last 14 years, SuperSport have had three coaches before Igesund – Pitso Mosimane, Gavin Hunt and Cavin Johnson. The latter got sacked while the other two left after sharing 13 years between them at the helm. Sibiya hates to fire the man in charge but circumstances may force him to reconsider.
“That’s how it works. I don’t fire you, you fire yourself. With me, I set the standards, you have asked for this and you got it so deliver. If you don’t deliver, don’t wait for me to fire you, fire yourself. Come and say, you have given me everything but I am sorry I could not deliver.”
With SuperSport on a downward spiral, doubts have been cast over the side’s ability to defend their Telkom Knockout crown.
Igesund has to turn the corner as soon as tomorrow when they start their title defence against Polokwane City at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
In City they meet an attack-minded side that plays enterprising football with no fear and SuperSport’s defence will have to be at their best. - The Star