It seems to be a natural phenomenon across Africa for indigenous not to get the same opportunities and confidence as their foreign counterparts.
Foreign coaches get all the pecks of the job, and their employers repose more confidence in them, while their local counterparts are held to higher standards with minimal resources.
In South Africa, the local coaches are presented with obstacles to surmount. The situation is something a former player finds displeasing and has dropped his ten-cent on the matter.
Despite a better knowledge of the terrain brought about by my years of experience, clubs use the local coaches only in caretaker capacities. The foreign coaches get the main jobs.
Makhosonke Bhengu, a former Orlando Pirates player, opines local coaches ought to get more respect.
According to him, the local coaches in the PSL get no respect, and it should change.
Speaking in a recent interview, Bhengu wants coach Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids to manage their teams. He wants them to receive a fair chance in proving themselves.
Bhengu is not asking for undue advantage but insists the local coaches be given the same chance that foreigners get.
“A team cannot be transformed overnight. Give local coaches (the) same chances you give foreigners. Our coaches are educated too, and they need to be given (the) same respect. They can’t keep on being caretaker coaches.”
Bhengu pointed at Sundowns as proof that belief and patience in local coaches can bring success at the end of the day. Another example of a successful local coach is Stuart Baxter, who made a return to Kaizer Chiefs.
“Same as what Kaizer Chiefs did with bringing back coach Stuart Baxter while there are coaches who have been doing well in the team. Even now, they are still using most of the players that haven’t been performing for the last five to six years, and they expect change.