Sundowns became the third premiership club to appoint a foreign coach within the space of a few days — Ajax Cape Town named Dutchman Maarten Stekelenburg as their new coach and Orlando Pirates followed with Brazilian Julio Cesar Leal last week.
Motsepe insisted that the Dutchman’s appointment was not a snub to local coaches.
"We have had various local coaches in the past and I do not see this as a problem," the billionaire Sundowns owner said.
"The reality is, you have got to compare yourself with the very best in the world," he said. "Welcoming others is also a sign of strength. Whenever we bring foreign coaches to the country, we always ensure that our assistants are local so that they learn from them.
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| Patrice Matsepe - Sundowns owner |
"England are coached by an Italian (Fabio Capello). Many other countries have foreign coaches."
Moroka Swallows coach Gordon Igesund — who led Sundowns to the premiership title in 2007 — said the trend of appointing foreign coaches was puzzling as local coaches had won more premiership titles than foreigners since the inception of the Premier Soccer League in 1996.
"You can correct me if I am wrong, but eight titles have been won by local coaches (since 1996)," he said. "But I guess if you do not believe in local coaches then you do not believe in local coaches."
Incidentally, Sundowns have employed a succession of foreign coaches since 2007 and yet Igesund was the last coach to lead them to domestic football’s Holy Grail.
South Africans Igesund (four titles), Gavin Hunt (three titles) and Neil Tovey have all won the league title. Romanian Ted Dumitru (four titles), maverick Frenchman Paul Dolezar (one), Zimbabwean Roy Barretto (one) and Dutchman Ruud Krol (one) are the foreigners who have won the league.
Motsepe revealed that Neeskens was recommended by Dutchman Johan Cruyff and was offered a three-year contract.
Neeskens said he was aware that he would have to adapt to the culture of local football and Sundowns would be nothing like the clubs he has played or worked for — Barcelona, Galatasaray and NEC Nijmegen , among others — during his career.
"I wanted only one person from Europe to assist me and I have blind faith in him," Neeskens said.
"He worked with Dick Advocaat at Glasgow Rangers. But I also told the president (Motsepe) that I wanted locals from Sundowns because they know this club.
"I do not want to make this Europe and I know that I have to adapt to the local culture here. I need the knowledge of these gentlemen and I am willing to listen."
Neeskens said while he was aware that Downs’ supporters had hounded a succession of previous coaches out of the club, he would not worry himself about that.
"One thing about me, I do not walk away from problems. I will face them (the supporters) when we are not winning and explain the logic behind my decisions."
Motsepe said the club had also signed five star players and they would be revealed next week.
Source -http://BusinessDay.co.za
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