Simo Dladla has clarified his controversial TV post-match comments where he suggested he would be taking over from Swallows head coach, Brandon Truter.
The club’s head coach Truter has been placed on special leave, leaving his assistant Dladla with the responsibility to oversee the club’s affairs.
Dladla was in the dugout for last Friday’s clash with Cape Town City at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto.
Moments after the goalless draw, Dladla told broadcaster SuperSport that the players, “with more training and time with me,” will get to “take my ideas and take them forward with the games that I’ve been given.”
It was a shock statement and it came as no surprise that it caused a stir at a time Truter has been asked to step aside following a run of poor results.
“I have a very good working relationship with coach Brandon as I obviously support him as his first assistant – supporting his ideas and methods,” Dladla responded on Tuesday when asked to elaborate during the MTN8 press conference.
Swallows again welcome City at the same venue, but this time in the second leg of their MTN 8 semifinal meeting where there has to be a winner.
“We have gone so many hours without scoring, so I have a different way of doing things in terms of that as a person. It does not say that we do not share the same ideas in terms of how we see the game. The philosophy, for me, is just the behaviour in certain moments. It’s the behaviour on the ball or off the ball, in the final third or the middle of the park and in defense. So that’s what I meant by saying I am trying to get my ideas across.”
According to Swallows chairman David Mogashoa, Truter will be back after the Mamelodi Sundowns game on Sunday and that he has not been fired.
“We need to be arrogant on the ball, we need to boss the game and be relentless in defense by having numbers there and numbers when we attack – calculated numbers, that’s what I meant. In essence, we have a very good relationship and of course as his assistant I have to rally behind in what he feels is right for the club,” Dladla explained.