Jean-Marc Ithier is a man who thrives on challenges, which is why he's as enthusiastic as a hyperactive kid let loose in a playpen when asked about his new role as head coach of Santos.
Ithier takes his team on the road for Sunday's Premier League match against AmaZulu in Durban (kick-off 3pm) and he's quietly confident they can come away with a positive result.
For this former police officer from the island of Rodrigues in Mauritius, there's no challenge too big and no hurdle too high to conquer. Bring it on - this is his life motto.
"This is the next step in my football education and experience," said Ithier, who has a Safa level 1 coaching certificate. "I love challenges, I don't like to just sail through things. So this new job as coach of Santos is sure to bring out the best in me. I'm looking forward to it... I enjoy the pressure, I love to attack challenges head on.
"I'm still learning every day and I'll take it one game at a time."
Ithier, now 42, remembers the important decision he took nine years ago to move to Cape Town. He saw it then as a tremendous challenge to come to a new country, new surroundings, a completely different culture and outlook, and playing in a competitive, emerging football league.
True to his character, he worked hard, put his entire body and soul into everything he did for Santos and, when he retired last year, he had carved out a reputation as a feared striker and attained respect as one of the best foreign footballers to have graced the SA football landscape.
This dedication, determination and drive are at the heart of who Ithier is.
"And I can assure you," he says, "that in my coaching career, you will see the very same Ithier qualities.
"I don't doubt the ability in the Santos squad. I believe in each and every one of them.
"But the main thing I have to work on is their self-belief and confidence.
"The problem with South African football is that the media spotlight is skewed. The players in the popular magazines and newspapers are all from the 'so-called' top teams, with the result that players at a team like Santos are made to feel inferior.
"I think that they start to believe that they are not as good as those players who are constantly being written and talked about. But I want to say to my players that they are just as good and even better... being written about doesn't make you good, it's what you do on the field for your team and your club that is of greater importance.
"And this is the message I will be drumming into my players this season."
Ithier got his tenure as head coach of Santos off to a solid, if unspectacular, start with a 2-2 draw against promoted Free State Stars at Athlone.
But, for Ithier, that result - and the fact that Sunday's opponents AmaZulu edged out champions Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 - is a sign of a noticeable shift in the traditional hierarchy of PSL football.
"The Premier League is no longer a cut-and-dried affair, where it will be dominated by two or three clubs," he added.
"I believe that, with the money flowing into the league, clubs are now able to strengthen their squads.
"The gap between teams is getting smaller and I predict that there will be some more surprise results this season."
As for AmaZulu on Sunday afternoon, he's keeping his thoughts about the improved quality of the PSL in mind when he prepares for the game.
"They are at home, they are on a high after beating Sundowns, they'll be ready for us," said Ithier.
"What's more, they'll have their fans rooting for them... we'll need to be motivated and focused. It certainly won't be an easy game."
As far as Ithier's squad is concerned, he is still looking at beefing up his defence.
Star defender Zvenyika Makonese is injured and looks likely to be out for some time, so he needs to find cover for the Zimbabwean.
Ithier has no illusions about the enormity of the task that awaits him, but he still has that extraordinary streak of aggression and confidence that served him so well as a player.
He'll draw deep on that streak and what's certain is that he'll never give up trying... he's just that type of sportsman.
The big question will come when things start to go awry - this is what separates good coaches from ordinary ones.
How will Ithier respond? Let's wait and see.