The 2002/2003 season is not a good one to be a Premier Soccer League (PSL) coach, with several already having paid the price for players’ poor performances on the field. But of the five coaches who have resigned, been fired or pushed out, only one has been able to find new employment.
Muhsin Ertugral, who was put on indefinite paid leave at Kaizer Chiefs, is now hoping to lead BP Top 8 and league champions Santos to a realistic defence of their title. He also intends to mount a reasonable campaign in the African champions’ league.
The People’s Team hope their signing of the Turkish-born Ertugral will prove a good move both on domestic and African fields. Ertugral, who has been known to throw a tantrum if his players do not do well, is hoping that the squad he has inherited at Santos will give him a bit more tranquility.Â
The new Santos coach is looking to ensure that his new club is well-versed in his style before venturing into unfamiliar territory in the African champions’ league in April. The only Southern African team to have won this lucrative competition was Orlando Pirates under Victor Bondarenko in 1995.Â
Ertugral says: ‘We need to quickly move on to play tactical football in order to have a good campaign in the champions’ league.†He is not going to put too much pressure on the players to defend the PSL title but is looking to have them at least finish in the top eight and defend their BP cup. In the champions league, Ertugral wants to reach the group stages at least and says that anything can happen from there.Â
Boebie Solomons, who has been caretaker coach of Santos since the controversial departure of Gordon Igesund at the beginning of the season, said the club wanted to reach another level and Ertugral’s experience in Africa and the world will help them reach that level. Solomons said the players were confident and supportive of Ertugral’s appointment, as he will add value to the club.
Solomons has now been relegated to assistant coach and team manager but is not bitter about the decision. ‘I am a student of the game and Muhsin will teach me more about coaching.â€
Santos have recently been in a slump but their last game against Jomo Cosmos, whom they trounced 3-0, impressed Ertugral, who was watching from the stands. ‘They played good football and against Manning Rangers this Friday it will be an important game for me and we must try and gain points.â€
The new coach knows he has some experienced and older players in his squad but is looking to introduce young players as soon as the club gets into a better position in the league. But he understands that it will not be an easy task as he does not have much time to both get the club in a comfortable PSL position and blood the youngsters to compete in the champion’s league.
In signing Ertugral, Santos are getting one of the country’s most successful coaches. Although he never achieved the Holy Grail for Chiefs — winning the PSL — he turned the club into cup kings. Under his guidance they won the Vodacom Challenge twice in a row, the Telkom Charity Cup, the BP Top 8, the lucrative Coca-Cola Cup and the African Cup of Cup Winners — the Mandela Cup. For these achievements Chiefs were named Africa’s club of the year last year.
Santos, who have no sponsor despite their on-field achievements, will hope he can continue his run of success in some of these lucrative cups.
Ertugral’s failure to win the league title was compounded by the fact that Chiefs failed to make the top eight last season. Kaizer Motaung backed the coach, but not even the owner could ignore the mounting calls for the Turk’s dismissal.
Ertugral, who believes Chiefs have a chance of winning the league title this year, says he built the team around Thabo Mooki, Patrick Mabedi and Brian Baloyi. The new Santos coach would not be drawn into commenting on whether Doctor Khumalo and Ace Khuse were coaching material but said that they had learnt a lot under him.
Ertugral will face off against his two former assistants on January 29 when the two clubs meet in the league.