The 2022/23 DStv Premiership season witnessed many coaching changes as teams had to find a way of grinding the results.
FARPost writer Otis Ntshangase looks at how South African coaches fared compared to their foreign counterparts.
Nine teams restructured their technical staff this season. These are namely Mamelodi Sundowns, Swallows FC, Royal AM, AmaZulu FC, Richards Bay FC, Sekhukhune United, Marumo Gallants, Chippa United and Maritzburg United.
According to statistics, local coaches fared better. In the top eight of the log, there are six South African coaches compared to two foreigners.
RULANI MOKWENA
Mamelodi Sundowns’ Rulani Mokwena is the best South African coach of the season. The mentor led Sundowns to their sixth straight league title and to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League for the first time in 2018/19.
Under Mokwena, the Masandawana were unbeaten in 24 matches in all competitions. For his efforts, Mokwena was awarded Coach of the Season accolade.
ERIC TINKLER AND STEVE BARKER
Eric Tinkler and Steve Barker had good seasons respectively despite both coaches having a slow start.
Cape Town City FC and Stellenbosch FC once found themselves in the relegation zone, but they managed to turn things around. The duo finished fourth and sixth respectively on the log standings.
JOSE RIVEIRO
Orlando Pirates’ Jose Riveiro is with no doubt the best foreign coach this season. The Spaniard clinched the MTN8 trophly.
Fast forward seven months later, he won the Nedbank Cup as his troops beat Sekhukhune United 2-1 in the final. To add, Pirates returned to the CAF Champions League after finishing second on the log.
MUSA NYATAMA
Former Swallows FC player Musa Nyatama tried his utmost best as the coach for the first time. Nyatama helped the Soweto side avoid relegation and led the Dube Birds to an eighth-place finish.
For his effort, the 35-year-old was confirmed as the club’s head coach ahead of the 2023/24 season.
JOHN MADUKA
John Maduka re-united with Royal AM after being sacked by Maritzburg United. With Thwihli Thwahla, the Malawian mentor managed to revive the team. The KZN side, however failed to book a spot in the top eight as they ended 11th with 34 points.
GAVIN HUNT
Gavin Hunt had a good season with SuperSport United despite a bad start. Matsatsantsa finished in the top four for the first time since 2016/17 season. The Tshwane side booked a spot in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup after finishing third.
VUSIMUZI VILAKAZI AND MABHUTI KHANYEZA
Golden Arrows co-coaches Vusimuzi Vilakazi and Mabhuti Khanyeza have been inconsistent in their performances blowing hot and cold. Abafana Bes’thende missed out on the eighth spot, just two points behind Swallows FC.
ARTHUR ZWANE
Arthur Zwane had a bad season with Kaizer Chiefs as they have been inconsistent in their performances, which resulted in them failing to challenge for any title. Amakhosi also missed out on next season’s continental football as they ended fifth on the log with 44 points.
SEAD RAMOVIC
Sead Ramovic has had an average campaign with TS Galaxy, their progress was disturbed by inconsistent performances. The Rockets finished 10th after accumulating 35 points, five points better than last season’s tally.
BRANDON TRUTER
Brandon Truter had a quite good season with Sekhukhune United. They finished seventh on the log and lost in the Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates.
When Truter was appointed in November 2022, Babina Noko were relinquishing on the 15th position.
AYANDA DLAMINI
Like Nyatama, Ayanda Dlamini of AmaZulu FC did his level best to save the team from relegation in the DStv Premiership. Usuthu were laying in the relegation zone when he took over from Romain Folz. In the five matches he coached, he managed to bring stability to the team and led them to a 12th place finish.
VASILI MANOUSAKIS
Vasili Manousakis has had a tough time with Richards Bay FC since being put at the reign of the club. The Rich Natal Boyz survived relegation by four points following their 0-0 draw against Royal AM in the final match of the season.
LEHLOHONOLO SEEMA AND CO.
As expected, the Chilli Boys had many coach changes in the just ended DStv Premiership season. Chippa made five coaching changes including the likes of Daine Klate, Morgan Mammila, Kurt Lentjies, Siyabulela Gwambi and Lehlohonolo Seema. The quintet failed to grind the results as the team 14th, a point above relegated Marumo Gallants.
FADLU DAVIDS
Fadlu Davids and Maritzburg United experienced a difficult season, however still got a chance of retaining their top-flight status through the DStv Premiership, Promotional/Relegation playoffs. The Blue Army finished 15th, at par with Chippa United and a point above Marumo Gallants.
RAYMOND MDAKA
Raymond Mdaka failed to save his Marumo Gallants side from relegation, therefore they will be playing in the Motsepe Foundation Championship next season. The Polokwane side were relegated following a 2-0 defeat to Swallows FC. Despite struggling in the league, they had a good run in the CAF Confederation Cup by reaching the semi-finals.
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