A war of words has erupted between Venda Football Academy and their former head coach Simo Dladla amid tribalism and interference claims.
Dladla was officially dismissed by Motsepe Foundation Championship outfit VFA in April this year, two months after the coach was placed on suspension.
There were no reasons given for Dladla’s departure, but the latest public spat is a clear indication that there was no amicable separation.
SIMO DLADLA MAKES TRIBALISM REVELATIONS
Dladla is accusing the club of, amongst other things, tribalism and interference from the management of the PSL side. During an interview on PhalaPhala FM this week, Dladla says he was instructed to play Venda-born players.
He adds that he was being accused of playing Zulu-speaking players because he is Zulu-speaking. Dladla says the chairman of the club Itani Munzhelele is the one who dictates who plays and who doesn’t.
“I had the freedom to train the players, but when it came to the selection of the team, that was controlled by the chairman [Itani Munzhelele],” said Dladla.
He also confirmed that he was no longer on good terms with the club bosses prior to his departure.
“I was not in good spirits because of the way I was treated. Football is Football, I don’t want to burn bridges, but it was rather very bad.”
ON CLAIMS OF TRIBALISM AT VFA
“It did come that they want more Venda players [playing]. Some of the words used were that I am using Zulu players because I am Zulu. It was very harsh and made my job very difficult.”
But responding at the same station, Munzhelele refuted the claims. He explained that as a club based in Venda, they also have a mandate to nature and promote local talent.
“If my business partner and I had no intentions of developing football in the Vhembe region, we could have taken the team to Johannesburg, where we are based,” he said.
“But the team is based in Venda because we want to develop the local talent. So if the club that comes from Venda doesn’t even have one player from that area being given opportunities, we won’t be fulfilling our objectives.
“Part of our vision is to target you players from the region as a way of giving back. So we are not shameful, nor are we apologetic about it. It’s what we stand for that our club must develop players from the Vhembe area.”
Munzhelele also refuted claims that he interfered with the team selection.