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Pressing Issues: The revolution that is the outfit of a trio of local coaches in diski

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Kaizer Chiefs have unveiled the scholarly one-time Bafana skipper Steve Komphela as their new players’ mentor.

No sooner was the announcement made, than colleague Caiphus Kgosana issued this warning: “Get your dictionaries now. Don’t say you were not warned.”

And then he sent us a post by Fikile Ntsikelelo-Moya on Facebook: “The insurgency of the outfit named after a collective of those inclined to maritime banditry was such that it warranted us to park a multiple-seater perambulator to avert further destructive consequences that would divert us from our express intention of emerging with a trinity of points.”

He said this was how Komphela explained why he had parked a bus against Orlando Pirates.

Aren’t we in for English lessons?

However, on a serious note, it was a brave decision by Kaizer Motaung – one of the most astute soccer administrators in this country – to plonk Komphela in the hot seat.

He follows the path of mining mogul Patrice Motsepe who has previous Bafana mentor Pitso Mosimane at the helm at Sundowns.

The Iron Duke of South African football, Irvin Khoza is also staying with erstwhile national team midfielder Eric Tinkler.

Mosimane and Tinkler have not disappointed that much. The former has already collected a league title with Bafana Ba’style while Pirates have scored the most goals in the league under Tinkler.

Motaung’s move has for the first time set a scene where the top three South African sides – Chiefs, Pirates and Sundowns – all have local coaches.

This is history in the making.

And they are not just any local boys, but former Bafana players.

This must mean something for South African coaching and I hope organisations such as the SA Coaches Association are taking note and enhancing their fight for coaches’ rights to be recognised.

However, one hopes that the soccer fraternity does not fall into the same trap that South African society seems to have slipped into – that of putting rights before responsibilities.

Coaches must know that results speak volumes.

It would be a pity if Komphela, Mosimane and Tinkler don’t take responsibility for their teams.

In fact, the challenge has just begun for the trio – as their success will go a long way to changing the view that Motaung and Khoza have long shared: that no local coach was good enough for their clubs.

We are no doubt in for quite an exciting season.

In fact, one of the greatest sons of diski – the burning spear that is Jomo Sono AKA Skobho AKA Troublemaker – is back in top flight football after three seasons in the wilderness.

Welcome back Mjomane, we missed you!

Komphela’s appointment reminded me of a comment from a top Safa official who said: “I watch South African soccer for two things: To be entertained by my team Chiefs, and for the ever entertaining Sundowns post-match interviews.”

I have asked my colleagues to keep track, so at the end of the season we can decide whether Mosimane or Komphela have provided the most entertaining interviews.

Don’t leave Sono out of the equation, though.

That is if he doesn’t have a plane to catch, leaving his assistant to conduct the post-match interviews, which usually happens after Jomo Cosmos have lost.

smseleku@citypress.co.za

Follow me on Twitter @Sbu_Mseleku

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