The Dladla surname is a popular name in KwaZulu Natal when it comes to football in the coaching fraternity. In the early 2000s, in Pietermaritzburg emerged a strong Maritzburg City under the guidance of Thabo Dladla which produced the likes of Andile ‘Sguda’ Cele, Mbulelo Mabizela, Jimmy Tau, Mlungisi ‘Pro’ Gumbi, amongst others.
Fast forward, in 2013 rose another giant in coaching, this time in the village of KwaNyuswa, near Hillcrest, called Simo Dladla. Before making his name known in 2013 with young Real Kings, Dladla started his coaching journey in 2011 with a local team called Take It Easy FC. One would have thought he’d take things easy in coaching but it didn’t work out that way. In 2012, SAB league teams came knocking for his services. First knocked Pinetown FC, which he would only have to spend a season with. Then in 2013 Real Kings, whilst campaigning in SAB league, came knocking for his services and which he gladly accepted right through till they got promoted to NFD in 2016.
His journey with Real Kings was some kind of a fairy tale, as they went up the divisions with ease till they reached NFD. In the 2017/18 season, Dladla’s Kings found itself finishing 4th on the log. It was at this point in time where clubs began to respect the acumen of Coach Simo Dladla. He is humble in his approach to life, as he’s a stable, grounded and content family man. He admits, “I am still trying to find the balance between my family and my job. It’s difficult and tricky but I am trying. I don’t spend enough time with my kids and even if I am home football is always in my mind”
He doesn’t boast about his achievements and players he has discovered. As he counts for us the number of players he has given an opportunity to Kick-start their professional careers in GAC, you could sense that ‘taking it easy’ is not part of his moto in life. He counts Dumisani Zuma [Chiefs], Phumlani Gumede [AmaZulu], Sello Motsepe and Lucky boy Mokoena [Highlands Park], Ricardo Goss [Wits], Mlu Mazibuko [Chippa], Lindokuhle Mtshali, Siyavuya Ndlovu, Neverdie Makhubela and Nkosi Phewa [Arrows], Brian Hlongwa [Pirates] and the new Sundowns sensational, Luvuyo Phewa as players he had a chance to mentor, develop, train and release. He is also proud of his export in Turkish 2nd division, a young striker Sboniso Mtshali.
“The toughest part is having to rebuild the team after losing players which happens quite frequently with my teams. It is always difficult to assemble a team but I have to be honest with myself and everyone around me.”
Dladla dreams of contributing in any national team set up, “I would love to get involved somehow [in the national teams] because, I feel I have something offer to the National team set up at any level when given a chance.” Of course, Dladla has an eye for talent and a will to succeed in football which are two important ingredients in football. He is open to learning and has found himself spending time with veteran coaches like Arrows duo of Steve Komphela and Mandla Ncikazi.
He tells us he has a coaching philosophy. “I am not stagnant, I am dynamic, I play to my players strength. I like to change formations. That is why I want flexible players.” He continued, “my perfect player is a player that plays more with the brains and the technique than the body”
You may believe or think impressing him is easy, Dladla doesn’t believe so. He likes players who are smarter and technically gifted. He predicts Neverdie Makhubela [Arrows] and Luvuyo Phewa [now Sundowns] as two players who are going to take PSL by storm in the future. Currently, he mentors ‘Natal Rich Boys’ formerly known as Richard’s Bay FC in uMhlathuze Municipality. They’re currently 10th on the log with no chance of both promotion and playoff spot neither a chance for relegation in the GAC. You’d think Dladla is taking it easy during the COVID-19 break, but you’d be wrong. Dladla aims at finishing in the Top 8 of GAC and perhaps guide the team for automatic promotion next season.
https://twitter.com/prophilani?s=09