Maritzburg United coach Gordon Igesund appears to be waving his magic coaching wand once again.
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) newcomers are one of only five unbeaten teams left after three rounds of the Absa Premiership.
Igesund’s men carved out a credible 0-0 draw against Bloemfontein Celtic at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium on Sunday that again underlined Igesund’s promise his side would shock a few of the so-called big guns this season.
United started their league programme with a tough 1-1 away draw against last season’s runners-up, Ajax Cape Town, and then defeated Kaizer Chiefs 3-2 in a recent controversial clash played at Chatsworth.
Igesund, who has won four league titles with as many teams, looks to be on another mission to underline his prowess as the country most successful local-born coach.
When asked about chances of winning a fifth league title, Igesund said: ”If United finish in the middle of the table or in the top eight, some people would consider that a good season, considering I put this side together a month before the league started. I have ambitions, but it is far too early to look that far ahead.
”I am thrilled by the tactical awareness and discipline my players have shown. I was quietly confident at the start of the campaign that we would do well and our performances and results have reinforced my belief in my players, considering I had to form a new team in less than a month.”
He described playing Celtic in their backyard as ”like playing in the lion’s den”.
Said the United coach: ”It was tough. Believe me, Celtic are a good side and they are going to get stronger. They had the better of the first half and we came back into the game more in the second. The home crowd really started to lift them.
”I reckon a draw was a fair reflection. I was happy to return home with another good away point.”
It was also Celtic’s first point of the season, but under Mich D’Avray Phunya Sele Sele are, like Igesund said, destined for bigger things this season.
Igesund, while happy with his coaching record over the past decade in the PSL, where he took small clubs such as Manning Rangers and Santos — plus big sides Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns — to the championship, is surprised he has never been asked to coach Bafana Bafana.
Said Igesund: ”Like any other top South African coach I would one day love to coach my country. But it looks as though the powers that be prefer foreign coaches.”
But Igesund said he is content to bring success to United: ”I may have to prove my point all over again. But I love and thrive on challenges.”
There was great joy in Port Elizabeth on Sunday where the other rookie PSL outfit, Bay United, upset the form book by sinking Orlando Pirates 2-0. Bucs have a solitary point from three matches and have not scored a goal in the league.
Bucs coach Ruud Krol lamented the fact his strikers are failing to score. ”We had a few chances and then gave away a bad goal four minutes into the second half. But we have to start scoring. It is a big problem we need to solve.”
Bay United coach Vladislav Heric was overjoyed. He said: ”This is a moment to treasure, not just for me, but for all the people of Port Elizabeth who have waited so long for this our first win at home and in the PSL.”
Heric said the key was to snuff our Bucs playmaker Teko Modise. Said the United coach: ”Once we stopped Modise playing, we knew we had a chance. I am delighted.”
In Sunday’s other fixture, AmaZulu notched their first win of the season when they defeated Thanda Royal Zulu 1-0 in a Durban derby played in Umlazi. — Sapa