Publications
Partners
Mark Gleeson
Irvin Khoza is either a man of great innovation or runs his club in an archaic fashion, but his insistence last week that a decision on the future of Ruud Krol could only be made once the coach had received “a report” is surely a world first.
Khoza reportedly said Krol’s future is undecided but could be sorted out next week. He said he is awaiting a formal report from the technical team.
Admittedly, I was not there to hear first hand and so am going on what was reported after a midweek press conference, but it is certainly a new spin on trying to explain away a pretty simple issue.
Who has ever heard of such absurdity? Did Roman Abramovich wait for a report from Carlo Ancelotti when he fired him for failing to win any silverware at Chelsea this season? No! He fired his sorry arse right out of Stamford Bridge, minutes after the last game of the season.
Did Massimo Moratti at Inter Milan wait for paperwork from Rafa Benitez after the coach publicly criticised the chairman for not buying new players? No! He showed him who the boss was with a kick out the door.
Club owners don’t wait for reports! They make decisions, rightly or wrongly, on what they think is best for their team.
Khoza himself has fired a bevy of past coaches when they have not worked out for him and his team. Did Bibey Mutombo or Milutin Srejedovic’s fate depend on their “reports”? Really, do me a favour!
At stake here is the question of whether triple-winning coach Ruud Krol is staying or not. His contract is up and up until the last game of the season, no one at Pirates had spoken to him abut a new one, or at least that is what he repeatedly told us with a shrug of the shoulder.
Well, if you are just months from the end of a contract and no one has come to talk about renewing it, then you are pretty much back in the job market.
Krol made no bones about the fact he accepted he was not being asked to stay on at Pirates, although winning the league and cup double on successive weekends has muddied the waters a lot.
Now the pressure is on Khoza because Krol’s profile among the Pirates fans has gone from sinner to saint. The majority wanted him out in the first half of the season, now they are all writing to papers, phoning the radio stations and texting messages of love.
Khoza now needs a valid reason not to re-employ Krol after such a successful season. And the only valid reason he could have is a new coach, with an even bigger name and profile than the former Dutch World Cup captain.
So when the Pirates boss says he is “waiting for a report” it is Khoza-speak for “I’m not ready yet to make an announcement”.
But really he should just say so instead of the whole charade of pretending he is waiting for a report.
Mark Gleeson is a respected television commentator and Editorial Director of Mzanzi Football.
Disclaimer: Sport24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on Sport24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sport24.
Irvin Khoza is either a man of great innovation or runs his club in an archaic fashion, but his insistence last week that a decision on the future of Ruud Krol could only be made once the coach had received “a report” is surely a world first.
Khoza reportedly said Krol’s future is undecided but could be sorted out next week. He said he is awaiting a formal report from the technical team.
Admittedly, I was not there to hear first hand and so am going on what was reported after a midweek press conference, but it is certainly a new spin on trying to explain away a pretty simple issue.
Who has ever heard of such absurdity? Did Roman Abramovich wait for a report from Carlo Ancelotti when he fired him for failing to win any silverware at Chelsea this season? No! He fired his sorry arse right out of Stamford Bridge, minutes after the last game of the season.
Did Massimo Moratti at Inter Milan wait for paperwork from Rafa Benitez after the coach publicly criticised the chairman for not buying new players? No! He showed him who the boss was with a kick out the door.
Club owners don’t wait for reports! They make decisions, rightly or wrongly, on what they think is best for their team.
Khoza himself has fired a bevy of past coaches when they have not worked out for him and his team. Did Bibey Mutombo or Milutin Srejedovic’s fate depend on their “reports”? Really, do me a favour!
At stake here is the question of whether triple-winning coach Ruud Krol is staying or not. His contract is up and up until the last game of the season, no one at Pirates had spoken to him abut a new one, or at least that is what he repeatedly told us with a shrug of the shoulder.
Well, if you are just months from the end of a contract and no one has come to talk about renewing it, then you are pretty much back in the job market.
Krol made no bones about the fact he accepted he was not being asked to stay on at Pirates, although winning the league and cup double on successive weekends has muddied the waters a lot.
Now the pressure is on Khoza because Krol’s profile among the Pirates fans has gone from sinner to saint. The majority wanted him out in the first half of the season, now they are all writing to papers, phoning the radio stations and texting messages of love.
Khoza now needs a valid reason not to re-employ Krol after such a successful season. And the only valid reason he could have is a new coach, with an even bigger name and profile than the former Dutch World Cup captain.
So when the Pirates boss says he is “waiting for a report” it is Khoza-speak for “I’m not ready yet to make an announcement”.
But really he should just say so instead of the whole charade of pretending he is waiting for a report.
Mark Gleeson is a respected television commentator and Editorial Director of Mzanzi Football.
Disclaimer: Sport24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on Sport24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sport24.
