Former Bafana Bafana captain and joint Mamelodi Sundowns caretaker coach Neil Tovey has this advice for club president Patrice Motsepe: stop looking for a coach.
The Brazilians’ fortunes have undergone a stunning transformation in the past two weeks since Tovey and former assistant coach Miguel Gramondi jointly took over the coaching at Sundowns following the resignation of Argentina’s Angel Cappa.
The Tovey-Gramondi trail-blazer started with a 5-1 win over Black Leopards and then Sundowns pummelled Dynamos 4-0 in an unprecedented demonstration of verve and scoring power.
But it is believed that despite Sundowns leapfrogging into a dominant top position in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) log, millionaire mining magnate Motsepe has been inundated with offers from coaches from all round the globe to assume the position of head coach at Pretoria’s rejuvenated club.
Reputed to be among those under consideration are former Argentine World Cup hero and Tottenham Hotspur coach Ossie Ardilles and leading PSL coaches Pitso Mosimane (Supersport United) and Gordon Igesund (Ajax Cape Town).
But after the Tovey-Gramondi duo transformed what had been described as a squad of languid ”fat cat” stars into a potent winning combination, the former Bafana captain and head of Sundowns’ development programme believes it would be foolhardy changing a winning combination.
”I don’t think anyone has questioned the supposition that Sundowns have the talent to regain the PSL title they last held four seasons ago.” said Tovey, ”but the team has been functioning like a streamlined Ferrari running on substandard fuel.”
Tovey believes the critical shortcoming of soccer horsepower at Sundowns was the absence in the club’s technical team of a potent voice with a familiarity and understanding of South African players and conditions.
”That has now been corrected,” he added, ”and the results achieved by myself and Miguel speak for themselves. I think we have done enough to at least carry on until the end of the season — and show we can take the team to the PSL title and other honours.”
Sundowns currently head the PSL log by a point from Orlando Pirates with a game in hand after turning around a deficit of seven points into a decisive advantage in a matter of weeks. — Sapa