Merryman Kunene SOCCER Nastasia Tsichlas started at Sundowns as club secretary. Some might think it was a ploy by club vice-chair Angelo Tsichlas to keep his wife busy while he took care of big business at the club – but her skills were soon recognised. The small job led to bigger things and when her husband and his business partner Abe Krok took over the side in 1992 Nastasia became the general manager. It took a while for the former secretary to understand the dynamics of a successful football team management. As a result the team’s league position temporarily slid while they fiddled to find the right formula.
Yet Tsichlas did not need to worry much about moulding the team into a successful unit. All she had to do was remember what Sundowns were all about in the first place. This is a side that was founded on the principles of being there first. Previous owner Zola Mahoba knew from the first his side had to do better than Chiefs and Pirates, which together have the largest block of supporters and can manipulate sponsors and administrators. Mahoba’s Sundowns created options and set new standards. Tsichlas, with three Castle League championships in succession and possibilities in the African champions league, seems ready to wrest the mantle of best in the country from her male rivals at the Soweto giants. It is the intensity and attention to detail she brings to the job that sets her apart from others. When one sees Tsichlas at training with Sundowns, you get the impression that nothing matters more in her life than guiding the side to another cup victory. People may think the most important part of managing a football team is the weekend when it has to produce the result. However, it is during the week that players whine about every little thing in the camp. For Tsichlas it is like mothering 30-odd children whose problems range from lack of schools fees to matrimonial issues. Sundowns’ philosophy is to get players happy and provide for them in every way possible. Yet Tsichlas can only take so much from players. She has been dubbed the Iron Lady not only because she is a tough negotiator in the boardroom – troublemakers at Sundowns soon find themselves a home elsewhere. Zane Moosa, for so long a darling of the fans, had to endure a few months in the wilderness once he had fallen out of favour. And Tsichlas commented: “We cannot keep a player who does not want to play for us and is causing problems for us.” Harsh words have not been reserved for errant players – coaches who took the Iron Lady for granted soon found themselves on the unemployment lists. Despite her busy schedule, Tsichlas became involved in women’s soccer, which had been neglected for many years. Banyana Banyana were soon to benefit from her boundless energy as it became clear the South African Football Association (Safa) was just paying lip service to the issue of women’s soccer development. She has been instrumental in the revival of several structures. As Safa prepares to host the African Cup of Nations for Women in October, Tsichlas hopes her contribution will bear fruit on the final day of the tournament.
Meanwhile, there are some more pressing issues – like keeping Sundowns on top and making sure that the Southern African region makes an impact in this year’s champions league. Hers is the only team from this region still in the contest and as they engage Sable de Batie of Cameroon a lot is expected from her. With Ria Ledwaba’s Ria Stars now in the premier league, Tsichlas has a sister-in-struggle to take on the big boys.