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The coaches: do they have what it takes?

26/08/2013 05:13:00 BY DUMISANI NTIWANE

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Most often than not, when teams win it is the players who tend to get all the praises and bask in the glory.

However, when the same teams fails to impress, the coaches are usually the ones who have their necks copped on the chopping board.
Who is better prepared of the 12 men to lead their teams to glory in the new season? Enjoy the read, as we weigh each coach’s chances...

Nyanga ‘Crooks’ Hlophe (Mbabane Swallows)

‘Miller’ as his cha-rges affectionately call him is the most decorated practising coach in the top flight with five league trophies in his cabinet.
He won two of these with his former team Manzini Wanderers and added three with his beloved Mbabane Swallows where he has carved a name for himself for being the longest serving coach in the red and white ensemble.
He is once again expected to spearhead Swallows’ quest for a third trophy on the trot. Having retained a majority of the players who did the job for him last season, Hlophe’s mission looks possible. He has struck the perfect understanding with his charges.

Raphael Ntimane
(Malanti Chiefs)

Depending on how fast his team Malanti Chiefs get a permanent replacement for South Africa’s Kenny Ndlazi, Ntimane could be badly exposed as the going gets tougher in the competition.
With no experience of coaching in the big league, he can wreck the ‘expensive car’ in the star studded unit.
However, team owner Dumisani Gumede has swiftly brought in one Patrick Milaso, who was present the other time but could not sit on the bench because of his paperwork. It remains to be seen if his documents are now ready for him to guide the team’s fortunes from the bench. Ntibane otherwise could be headed for torrid times with coaching experience at this stage of the game.
Another factor, which could work against him is the fact that he is teammates with the players and as such could find himself battling to be taken seriously.

Gcina ‘Magiyane’ Dlamini (Green Mamba)

He seems to have created a monster in the mean-looking Correctional Services ensemble. Having joined in the middle of last season from the then National First Division League ensemble RSSS United, Dlamini now looks set to mount a serious challenge. He only has one league title under his name which he won with the then exciting Mhlambanyatsi Rovers outfit in the 2003/04 season. His hands are surely itching to lay hands on a second title. Green Mamba too, only have one league title to their name and obviously are desperate for a second one. It could be the perfect combination.
There is now doubting Dlamini’s shrewdness and working under little pressure if any at all, his best is probably yet to come. He has all the time and resources compared to a majority of other coaches and should have minor problems forging his ideal combinations.
He is one of the coaches to watch in the new season.

Zenzele ‘Ace’ Dlamini (Moneni Pirates)

The towering mentor can also lay claim to being amongst the most successful coaches in the MTN League era with two titles to his name.
He is passionate about the game. He has a burning desire to do well and his vision and ambition gives him the edge compared to a majority in the top flight.
Dlamini’s major advantage as well is his ability or rather his belief in working with youngsters, He is not afraid to throw the youngsters, those most laymen would refer to as ‘wet behind the ears’, ‘raw’ or untried and untested – into the deep end. Dlamini likes to give such players a chance he then unearths gems in the process. He has done it to many players over the years. He too can surprise many by mounting a successful bid for honours this season.

Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati (Young Buffaloes)

He last tasted the League Championship when he was still guiding the fortunes of the fallen Mbabane Highlanders back in the day.
He is obviously eager to lift it again and the star studded Buffaloes team presents him with the perfect opportunity to do just that. He came close last season and knows he could have won it, as well, had his players been more consistent, especially in the second round of the competition when they dropped points they did not have to.
Although one of the temperamental coaches around, his players easily seem to relate to him and have now forged a strong bond with the outspoken coach.
Vilakati’s advantage as well is that he has been coaching in the top flight consistently for a very long time now and is laden with priceless experience.

Sifiso ‘Nuro’ Ntibane (Royal Leopard)

He has defied the odds to lead Leopard to their first silverware in the new season when he is hardly five months on the job.
Replacing the sacked Zambian coach, Texan Phiri, the police ensemble appeared to be taking a gamble by appointing the untested Ntibane into the hot position. However, he has rewarded their faith in him by landing the team the season’s opener in the Charity Cup.
Is he ready to lead the Leopard’s revival? Can Ntibane lead them to glory? Can he succeed where other highly qualified and much more experienced coaches have failed? By his own admission he is more than ready for the task even though he is likely to find the going tough, especially during the league’s second round.

Kenny Ndlazi
(Manzini Wanderers)

The shrewd, experienced and well travelled Ndlazi has a daunting task ahead of him in the new season.
He has never won the league title since his arrival in the country a few years back and has not hidden his desire to do so and he firmly believes that Manzini Wanderers his new team can help afford him the rare opportunity.
He came close with Malanti Chiefs last season leading the Pigg’s Peak based ensemble to the runners up position, which was Malanti’s highest finish in the top flight yet.
His job will be tougher at Wanderers being a new environment and all. Moreover, the supporters are now impatient and will obviously put pressure on the technical bench to deliver instant results, which will make his job even tougher.
Ndlazi remains one of the best coaches in the big league and even though his chances of assembling basically a new team and then go all the way to annex the title are not so bright he could still be up there with the title contenders.

Milton Dlamini
(Manzini Sundowns)

Nothing much has been seen of him since his arrival, as his team failed to defend the Charity Cup.
He has also preferred to play against the tougher South African team in his preseason schedule and very little has been seen of his tactics.
Joining from South Africa’s Thanda , Dlamini should be better equipped than most of his colleagues, as he has obviously been exposed to much better facilities and ideas. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to rekindle the glory days at the ‘Kappa Kappa’ ensemble with an able assistant coach in Mpendulo Ngwenya. However, in all honesty, expecting him to lead Sundowns to the title in only his first season in charge, would be expecting much from the man.

Van Royen Magagula
(Sea Birds)

He defied the odds to ensure that his charges survived their maiden season in the top flight last season.
It was really an achievement for him and even though he would be looking at improving on their final log position this time, he is likely to find the going a bit tough.
His team has been rather quiet in the off season and nothing much has been seen from them in preseason, which means that they could start their campaign this time on a bad note. That could be fatal. Last season they survived largely because they were able to collect maximum points very early on in the campaign.
Magagula is also not amongst the most experienced of mentors in the big league having only coached at this stage for just a season. He could be headed for disastrous times this time unless he signs quality and experienced players.

Caleb Ngwenya
(Midas City)

He is Midas City’s lifetime coach!
Ngwenya and City go hand in hand like potato chips and vinegar. He has been at City almost forever but strangely his team survived the dreaded relegation axe by a whisker last season, as they won their last games dramatically, including having to beat the then uncrowned champions Mbabane Swallows.
He too did not seem to have sufficient preseason games and could struggle in the opening rounds of the competition only to pick up form later, which by then in most instances is usually too late. His chances of lifting the league trophy as a City coach are next to zero unless he changes team, which too is almost impossible considering his devotion, attachment and the fact that he is not just an ordinary coach at City but is a director as well.

Manfred Chabinga
(RSSC United)

The Zambian mentor knows local football like the back of his hand. He has coached teams like Mbabane Swallows, Mhlambanyatsi Rovers and Manzini Sundowns.
The local game is not foreign to him and he should be in a position to help his new side RSSC United to sustain the pressure and survive their first season in the big league.
Chabinga has done well to recommend that the team signs fellow Zambian goalkeeper Sitali Mulife. Mulife’s experience will surely come in handy and could positively rub off to the rest of the players, making Chabinga’s job much easier in the process.
The Zambian’s coach’s chances of annexing the title in only his first season in charge are however minimal really. What would really standout as an achievement to him would be helping them avoid relegation. A top eight finish would be a bonus.

Gcina Nkambule (Umbelebele Cosmos)

He is another of the untried and untested coaches in the big league in the new season, which sadly does not aguer well for the Msunduza based ensemble.
He struggled to lead Umbelebele to the Premiership and the ‘Skom Boys’ then had to rope in Malian coach Alou Badara as the going got tougher towards the end of the campaign. By then, he had taken a back seat, as Badara took charge and the team eventually qualified.
The fact that the team’s management opted to hire another coach right before his eyes, could mean Umbelebele has little faith in him.
He is likely to be amongst the strugglers.