Chippa United chairman Chippa Mpengesi has likened the inexperienced Kurt Lentjies to a Grade R teacher, saying leaving him at the helm of the club would have been tantamount to assigning a Reception Year mistress to lecture at university.
Letjies was caretaker coach when the Chilli Boys survived relegation last season and was hoping to be left in charge of the team for the new season. However, in a shock move, Chippa Mpengesi replaced him with another coaching greenhorn Daine Klate.
Mpengesi has since opened up about what actually transpired. “You see with him [Kurt Lentjies], we were looking forward in helping him. We talking about a player who just came out of playing, he only had entry level in terms of coaching. It’s like taking a grade R teacher to teach at university. We wanted to get him an experienced coach as an assistant or co-coach, somebody he can work with, with more experience to guide him but he didn’t agree,” Mpengesi told SNAWA.
“He did well, end of season we had plans we wanted to see him successful. If the coach doesn’t want help and take a knee or advice from the bosses, unfortunately a decision has to be taken. That was a case we had with him, we never planned to fire him.”
“In the games we lost and drew, you could see that there was lack of experience. When it comes to this level of football, you need experience, that’s why the best team in South Africa [Mamelodi Sundowns] got three head coaches.”
The chairman, however, left the door open for his one of the most capped player to return to the club and honour his contract.
“He still has a contract as a player, his contract is ending at the end of the upcoming season. He never had a contract as a coach, if he wants to come and play he is welcome its his choice.”
“When we were no longer going to be working with him, there was an offer if he wanted to continue his coaching career called a mutual termination, but he didn’t want to do that,” he concluded.
RELATED STORY: Chippa appoint ex-Pirates midfielder as head coach
