Roger
de Sa have been appointed as the new head coach of the Orlando Pirates to
replace Augusto Palacios due to health problem according to the Club Chairman
Dr. Irvin Khoza but my conscious thinking is telling me that Njenje was fired
due to poor performance which
coincidental aggravated his health problem. Get well soon Mr. Coach Njenje.
Kids
are looking forward to re-unite with you in full time basis. For those who
don’t know, Augusto “Njenje" Palacios is the best soccer "nanny"
in South Africa. He took good care of many kids who graduated gradual to become
best soccer players in Mzansi such as the late Gift Leremi (RIP), Tlou
Segolela, Lebogang Cheeseboy Mokoena and many more players who even represented
South Africa in the junior national team ranks and Bafana Bafana.
Coaching
Orlando Pirates is one of the most problematic jobs in the continent. The
burden to deliver positive results even surpassed the pressure of the Country’s
President to deliver efficient service delivery. Hard to please Orlando Pirates
fans who can be hooligans when results are not forthcoming don't welcome any
mediocre performance.
The
new Orlando Pirates head coach Roger de Sa is recognized as master tactician.
His master tactician rating was solidified by Carlos Quirez when he appointed
him as one of his Assistant coach for Portugal during 2010 FIFA World Cup. I
doubt that there is something special about Roger de Sa.
In
his job acceptance speech, Roger de Sa promised that he will do his best to see
the club gets back to its winning ways. He further said "It really a great
honour to be at Orlando Pirates. An opportunity he got to coach Orlando Pirates
comes once in a career and he will hopefully grab the opportunity with both
hands as he is ready for it.
Roger de Sa coaching
challenges
1. Roger de Sa lacks
Championship winning reputation. According to Real Madrid Coach Jose Mourihno
“You may be a good coach but you are not a successful coach until you have won
a championship’’. Roger de Sa is a good coach but not a successful coach.
2. His temperamental
attitude has already eclipsed his coaching ability. He has modern soccer
tactical acumen but his behaviour on the side of pitch leaves a lot to be
desire. He is not a discipline coach as he is famous for over using the f-words
when annoyed.
3. Roger de Sa is known
for targeting referees or use them as a scapegoat for his team poor
performance. I also believe, fervently, that during his tenure at Wits, he made
Wits players think it was acceptable to blame referees for their own failings.
Brotherly advices to
Roger de Sa
1. He must work on
tactical aspects of the game to revitalised Orlando Pirates championship style
of play. He must put more emphasis on how to press, when to press, transitions
and positional play to maintain team balance and proper structure. His style of
play should be embedded with the principle of wing play which already brought
success to the Orlando Pirates by producing avalanche of goals.
2. He mustn’t reorganize
the team - Chopping and changing of the team will bring positive results at
later stage. It will be a wise move to build winning team from the existing
foundation laid by Rudi Krol, Julio Leal and last year winning combination of
Augusto Palacios.
3. Roger shouldn’t play
players based on reputation as it promotes favouritism and sowing of division
in the team. To have a championship winning team, select your players based on
merits.
4. Anger management-
Roger de Sa is known as a temperamental coach who likes to throw. tantrums and
chirping to referees, opponent players and even his own players. But be warned
Mr Coach, Orlando Pirates have enough narcissistic players such as Benni McCarthy, Andile Jali, Rooi
Mahamutsa and Tico Okonkwo who can make his life difficult.
5. Roger should have
tactical plan B to change the game around when the chips are down before the
boo boys started to force you to make changes. The delay of substitution
tendency is not welcome at Orlando Pirates. Ineffective players in the game
should be sacrificed within short period of time. Early substitute is welcome in
the team.
6. Rotational system is
also not welcome as it gives out of form players a chance to play ahead of
players who can make difference in the team. Select your best goalkeeper and
best 4 players at the back than rotating them which makes the team vulnerable
from opponent attacks which lead to leaking of 6 goals in a 2 games.
7. Don’t tolerate
ill-discipline from those players who think they are bigger than Orlando
Pirates. Bench or replace them for not following your instructions and fined
them hefty amount of money for any ill-discipline related behaviours in the
field of play.
8. Don’t implement any
defensive techniques as Pirates fans want Goals, goals, goals, goals. I know
that the current striking force is toothless but sharpened the strikers’
composure and teach them to be calm, collected and persistent in-front of
goals.
9. Bring your own
assistant coaches and worry less about Tebogo Moloi as the Pirates management
will decide where to employ him.
10. Don’t follow or
implement any tactical message from Orlando Pirates Administrative manager
Senzo Mazingiza or the team advisor Screamer Tshabalala - It is called
interferences with the coaching staff or encroaching technical team territory.
In
conclusion, Roger de Sa is an ambitious coach who carries with him a sense of
wanting to be a part of history, wanting to make history and indeed he joined
the right team with an ambition to conquer Africa. This is the Roger de Sa era
to start collecting medals. The best coach will always be respected for filling
the team cabinet with trophies than dominating balls possession without any
positive outcome. Boxing game can be decided by points but success of the
football can only be determined by scoring more goals to an opponent.
By Owen Mundalano
Tweet: @shudulizah
Founder: Football
Food for Thought
