Coastal view on Glad Africa Championship.
Part I
There’s a breeze of automatic promotion in KZN as her sides battle in the Glad Africa Championship for a spot in the Dstv Premiership. The revolution is led by a storm of young local coaches.
Uthongathi, Richards Bay and Royal AM (Andile Mpisane) are having a strong shout as the season approaches halfway mark.
Richards Bay are currently joint top, second only by GD. Royal AM, whose chairman is also a player are 4th, three points behind league leaders. Uthongathi are currently the lowest KZN side, occupying the 8th spot, 6 points behind leaders Sekhukhune and Richards Bay.
Those who advocate for local coaches, they will be inspired to learn that all three sides are coached by local coaches; The Natal Rich Boys have Simo Dladla at the helm, Uthongathi have Pitso Dladla and Royal AM have Floyd Mogale.
After first round of fixtures, Royal AM were baptized not by water and Spirit but by 4-0 courtesy of current table-toppers, Sekhukhune United. There was so much to say about 19-year old chairman Andile Mpisane by the football fans and experts. Things got worse when the club fired the coach, citing poor results and poor style of play as the reason.
The Dladlas also opened with indifferent results. First it was Simo Dladla’s Richards Bay who opened with a 1-0 loss away to AmaTuks, whilst Pitso Dladla’s Uthongathi were victorious side, beating FS Stars 1-0 away.
Things took a positive turn as Royal AM went for a coaching change. Experienced administrator, Sinky Mnisi, justified the dismissal of the coach and went straight for a man he trusts in Floyd Mogale. Mogale settled immediately and turned the corner. Not known at this level, but Mogale is no stranger to local football. He is known more in the development structures of the game. Till this day, Mogale has not disappointed Mnisi and has given his bosses many reasons to smile; he has also given his flamboyant chairman playing minutes during a 3-1 win away to Uthongathi at the Princess Magogo stadium in KwaMashu. It’s unheard of for a chairman to also turn to boots, but Andile Mpisane has broken barriers in 2020/21 season. Things are better for chairman Andile Mpisane, who has made his mandate of winning the league known to the public. Looking at the log table, it is beginning to take shape, amd the weight of the demand of such a man rests in the shoulders of Floyd Mogale and his boys. The jokes about chairman not knowing anything about football or football administration subsided as the club continued to collect points. The focus turned away from him, but went straight to where it’s due, to Floyd Mogale and his players, on the field.
The Natal Rich Boys on the Zululand region are quiet about their business. Collecting more points away from home with ease. They boosted their confidence when they defeated Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in the Nedbank Cup last 32. The match was live on TV and Simo’s boys were not afraid of their idols from Chiefs, and they ensured they’re remembered by viewers and history books.
Simo Dladla is no stranger in the GAC. He is the same man who took an unknown Real Kings side to top 4 in their maiden season in 2016. The Natal Rich Boys have managed to be on equal points with log leaders Sekhukhune United, but only 2nd on goal difference. You can see the desire and direction from the youthful Richards Bay side. Their base is away from the glits and glamor of Durban, but settled well in a coastal harbor of KZN. One hopes they won’t be like Thanda Royal Zulu, who won promotion to the Premier League but only for the owners to sell the status to AmaZulu, citing reason to lack of finance or sponsorship. From what has been happening on the field, the Rich Boys of Natal are a merciless side on their day. Their biggest win so far is 4:1 win VS new comers from Eastern Cape, Bizana Pondo Chiefs in NRB. It was also their first league win at home and it came in style.
Richards Bay have the 2nd best GD in the league. 2nd best defensive record so far and 3rd best scoring record. Best away record (1 loss, 2 draws and 5 wins). They have found a good recipe for promotion. What keeps their record away from being a perfectly balanced formula, is their home form (1 win, 3 draws and 1 loss). It may prove to be a not convincing enough form for their automatic promotion ambitions, but with such a tactician at the helm, the fans may have a reason to believe things may change.
Uthongathi on the other hand had a disappointing finish last season after drawing 10 matches in a row. This is one side that has a nice blend of youth and experience. This season, they’ve been blowing hot and cold, for a side who are affectionately known as ‘Cane Cutters’ energetic and inspirational results are all but lacking. Sitting mid-table, and also in both home and away form table, Pitso Dladla needs to find inspiration from his experienced players to move up the table. They will have to dig deeper in order for them to be counted as challengers.
Title contenders need to be wary of the KZN influence. If bosses can give their coaches the right support. Pay players well and on time, like they’ve been doing, they’d cut their title challenge job short and build-on a strong army for top flight football next season. If there’s an opportunity for these sides to win promotion it is the 2020/21 season. There won’t be a need to buy a DSTV Premiership status!
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