South Africa’s most successful football coach Pitso Mosimane has named five players who have benefited from his fatherly touch.
Mosimane’s approach is to take care of the human being first before expecting results from the football star.
“You coach a human being first before a football player because if you get a human being right, you will get the footballer because he is talented.
“They always say that it takes more than talent to be good, and you know that a lot of players are talented across the world in any sport. Talent alone is not enough, so you need more than that,” Mosimane said.
The Saudi Arabia-based mentor has since mentioned five players who benefited from his approach during his time in South Africa.
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“So I only use the same principle for Daine Klate; I remember signing him from the sports school of excellence when he was 17 or 18. He was doing matric at the time, and look at where he has handled himself; I’m proud to be associated with that because he’s also got his stories about me, same as Teko [Modise], we can go on.
“But I also use one principle, that you need to look after these boys because they are human beings and they are youngsters then the football will always come out. All these young players in my football career are successful, from Percy Tau, the late [Motjeka] Madisha, Klate, Teko, and can go on and on. The most important thing is that you must never forget that they are human beings, the Thapelo Morenas,” explained the Al Ahli Saudi coach.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach further revealed that in Jeddah, where he is based, he takes time to visit the families of young players.
In his books, it is important to know the players’ families. “Even in Saudi, I go inside the families, especially the younger ones, and I meet their fathers because it is important to be with the person.
“They must know that you are with them, and they mustn’t see you as a coach but rather as a brother, friend, father or guardian.”