Former Golden Arrows co-coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi has explained his decision to join Chippa United.
Vilakazi tendered his resignation at Arrows a few games into the new season about a week ago.
The coach’s decision to leave Arrows came as a shock to the SA football fraternity, as the KwaZulu-Natal side made a good start to the 2023/24 campaign, climbing to second spot in the league.
It remains unclear what led to his resignation but he said: “I am very grateful for the opportunity I received at Golden Arrows.
“Thank you so much Mato Madlala [Arrows chairperson] for all you’ve done and the support you have given me in the 20 years I’ve been in the system. I will forever cherish the moments with Abafana Bes’thende.”
The 40-year-old is Chippa’s new Technical Director.
But the club’s head coach Morgan Mammila revealed that Vilakazi is more of an assistant coach and he will be allowed to sit on the beach during games.
Vilakazi spent 20 years at Arrows as a player, communications manager then coach.
He won two DStv Diski Challenge titles with the reserves side before being appointed as Arrows co-coach at the start of last season alongside Mabhuti Khenyeza.
Vusumuzi Vilakazi has now revealed that he decided to move to Gqeberha after speaking with trigger-happy chairman Siviwe Chippa Mpengesi.
VILAKAZI ON HIS CHIPPA MOVE
“This was not the only offer I received, there were other offers, two more offers. The reason why I chose to come here it was because of the conversation I had with the chairman,” said Vilakazi.
“Obviously coming here as a TD, not necessarily come here and look for Morgan’s job, that’s not what I wanted.
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“The initial plan was that I need to move away from football just to take a break but the advantage in that was that [he said] ‘it’s fine, even if you need a break please come into the system, be in the system so that we can help each other’, that’s the reason I came here.
“Above everything else was to make sure and help the development structure, which is something that is in my blood. I’ve spent five years in the development structures and I try to invest a lot because I believe in youngsters.
“So that was the conversation, I opted for this option because of that.”